Hormones play critical roles in coordinating cellular activities throughout the body in response to the constant changes in both the internal and external environments. Hormones Hormones Hormones are messenger molecules that are synthesized in one part of the body and move through the bloodstream to exert specific regulatory effects on another part of the body. Pituitary hormones also play a critical role in growth and water balance. Beneath the cortex lies the adrenal medulla, which secretes catecholamines involved in the fight-or-flight response.
The outer parenchyma is called the adrenal cortex and has 3 distinct zones, each with its own secretory products. Thyroid Gland, adrenal glands Adrenal Glands The adrenal glands are a pair of retroperitoneal endocrine glands located above the kidneys. The thyroid gland is a highly vascular, brownish-red gland located in the visceral compartment of the anterior region of the neck. Pituitary hormones regulate multiple endocrine organs, including the gonads, thyroid gland Thyroid gland The thyroid gland is one of the largest endocrine glands in the human body. Pituitary Gland then releases its own hormones in response to hypothalamic stimulation. The gland sits on the sella turcica, just below the hypothalamus, which is the primary regulator of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland Pituitary gland The pituitary gland, also known as the hypophysis, is considered the "master endocrine gland" because it releases hormones that regulate the activity of multiple major endocrine organs in the body. Hypothalamus functions as the coordinating center between the CNS and endocrine system by integrating the signals received from the rest of the brain and releasing appropriate regulatory hormones to the pituitary gland Pituitary gland The pituitary gland, also known as the hypophysis, is considered the "master endocrine gland" because it releases hormones that regulate the activity of multiple major endocrine organs in the body. The hypothalamus plays a vital role in endocrine regulation as the primary regulator of the pituitary gland, and it is the major point of integration between the central nervous and endocrine systems. The hypothalamus Hypothalamus The hypothalamus is a collection of various nuclei within the diencephalon in the center of the brain. The hypothalamic and pituitary hormones are the most important regulators of the endocrine system.