Anatomy and Physiology 2: Endocrine System, Hormones, and Glands

This assignment explores the endocrine system, a crucial bodily system comprising glands that secrete hormones. The first question introduces the system, highlighting its role in regulating growth, development, metabolism, and sexual function, while also mentioning key components such as the thyroid, adrenal, parathyroid, and pituitary glands, and organs with non-primary endocrine functions. The second question delves into the endocrine system's function as a communication device, emphasizing the role of hormones and feedback loops in coordinating body functions like stress response, reproduction, metabolism, and growth. The assignment references key concepts and the importance of the endocrine system in maintaining overall health, including potential health issues related to its dysfunction.

Running head: ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 1
Anatomy and Physiology
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ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2
Question 1
The endocrine system contains glands that create hormones. Hormones regulate growth
and development, metabolism, and sexual function. Additionally, the hormones manage tissue
function, mood, and sleep, among other various things. Even though all hormones flow in every
part of an individual’s body, each kind of hormone targets a specific tissue or organ.
Moreover, the endocrine system is a collection of thyroid glands, adrenal glands, parathyroid
glands, and pituitary glands. In addition to the glands, the endocrine system also comprises of
testicles (in males) and ovaries (in females), and pancreas. Generally, each gland targets and
separates components in the blood processes and release the completed chemical product to be
utilized elsewhere in the body. The endocrine system manages almost every organ, cell, and
function in the body. Other body organs such as liver, heart, kidney, and gonads which all have
non-primary endocrine functions also assist the endocrine system in performing its various
responsibilities. For instance, the kidney releases hormones such as renin and erythropoietin.
Therefore, if an individual has a weak endocrine system, he/she is highly likely to experience
health issues related to puberty, pregnancy, and stress. Moreover, the person is at a high risk of
suffering from fragile bones, easy weight increase, and insufficient body energy (Csaba, 2014).
Question 2
The endocrine system performs as a communication device within the body of an
individual. The endocrine system communicates with other physiology systems through
hormones. Sources that provide hormones for the endocrine system include the kidney, heart,
pancreas, and gonads. Additionally, other sources are fat, thymus, thyroid, and parathyroid. To
communicate with other physiology systems, the endocrine system performs mainly by

ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 3
managing the neurons located in the brain, which are in charge of the pituitary gland. The
pituitary gland then releases materials in the blood that work on the endocrine glands. The
materials, either work to reduce or increase hormone creation. This process is known as a
feedback loop. The feedback loop requires communication from the brain to the pituitary gland
and then to the endocrine gland and finally back to the brain. The feedback loop is highly
significant for the management and activation of basic behavioral activities and control of body
functions. The basic behavioral activities include reaction to stress, sex, emotion, and eating.
Additionally, the body functions include reproduction, metabolism, and growth. Through the
feedback loop, information is passed from the endocrine system to other physiology systems
(Gordan, Gwathmey, & Xie, 2015).

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References
Csaba, G. (2014). Hormones in the immune system and their possible role. A critical
review. Acta microbiologica et immunologica Hungarica, 61(3), 241-260.
Gordan, R., Gwathmey, J. K., & Xie, L. H. (2015). Autonomic and endocrine control of
cardiovascular function. World journal of cardiology, 7(4), 204.