Chapter 07 Key Terms
Adrenal Glands
Two glands located on top of the kidneys that produce essential hormones, like adrenaline (which manages your stress response) and cortisol.
Endocrine Glands
Glands (like the thyroid or pituitary) that release hormones directly into the bloodstream to travel to distant organs and tissues.
Endocrine System
The body's system of glands that use hormones to control and coordinate vital functions, such as growth, metabolism, and reproduction.
Exocrine Glands
Glands (like sweat glands or salivary glands) that release their secretions through ducts onto a body surface or into a cavity.
Hormones
Chemical messengers produced by the endocrine glands that regulate the activity of specific cells or organs in the body.
Ovaries
The female reproductive glands that produce eggs (ova) and the hormones estrogen and progesterone.
Pancreas
An organ located behind the stomach that has both endocrine (producing insulin to control blood sugar) and exocrine functions (producing digestive juices).
Parathyroid Glands
Four tiny glands embedded in the back of the thyroid gland that control the body's calcium levels.
Pineal Body
A small gland deep in the brain that produces melatonin, which regulates the body's sleep-wake cycles (circadian rhythm).
Pituitary Gland
Often called the "master gland," this small gland at the base of the brain controls most other endocrine glands and regulates growth.
Placenta
A temporary organ that develops during pregnancy to provide oxygen and nutrients to the growing fetus and remove waste, while also producing hormones.
Testes
The male reproductive glands that produce sperm and the male hormone testosterone.
Thymus
A gland located in the chest behind the breastbone that is important for the development and maturation of T-cells, a type of white blood cell critical to the immune system.
Thyroid Gland
A butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck that produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolism (how the body uses energy).