Physiology of the Endocrine System: In a Nutshell (Nursing)

00:00 So to conclude our lecture on the endocrine system, we find that the endocrine system acts with the nervous system to coordinate and integrate the activity of the body cells. Hormones are going to act by binding to specific target cells and altering those target cells' activity.

00:22 There are several endocrine glands throughout the body which secrete specific hormones and target specific cells. The pituitary gland secretes 8 different hormones, 2 from the posterior pituitary and 6 from the anterior pituitary and many of these hormones control other endocrine glands. The thyroid gland is going to secrete thyroid hormone which is an important regulator of our metabolism in our body. The parathyroid is going to secrete parathyroid hormone, which is important for calcium levels in the body. The adrenal gland secretes hormones that are responsible for several different body activities including the regulation of our blood pressure and also our responses to stress. The pineal gland secretes the hormone melatonin, which has several functions including the regulation of our circadian rhythm.

01:28 And finally, there are also other organs in the body that have endocrine functions. These include the pancreas, the gonads, and the placenta. And this concludes our lecture on the endocrine system. Thank you for listening.