The Human Endocrine System

Endocrine gland	Main hormone	Function
Pituitary gland	Growth hormone (GH)	•Controls growth
	Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)	•Stimulates the reabsorption of water in the kidneys (osmoregulation)
	Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)	•Stimulates the formation of egg follicles in the ovary & the formation of sperms in the testes.
	Luteinising hormone (LH)	•Brings about ovulation
	Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)	•Stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine.

Endocrine gland	Main hormone	Function
Thyroid gland	Thyroxine	•Control growth •Controls the rate of metabolism
Testis (plural : testes)	Androgen	•Stimulates the development & maturation of the testes •Controls the development of male secondary sexual characteistics
Adrenal gland	Adrenaline	•Prepare the body to face an emergency or a critical situation •Stimulates the body to generate heat when the environmental temperature is low
Pancreas	Insulin	•Lowers the blood glucose level
	Glucagon	•Raises the blood glucose level
Ovary	Oestrogen	•Stimulates the thickening of the uterine wall
	Progesterone	•Maintains the thickening of the uterine wall.

•The pituitary gland is often called the master endocrine gland à controls other endocrine glands (thyroid gland, testes & ovaries)

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•The functions of hormones fall into 3 main categories :

–Reproduction (FSH, LH, oestrogen, progesteron & androgen)

–Growth (GH & thyroxine)

–Homeostasis (ADH, insulin, glucagon & adrenaline)