Endocrine Gland

Ductless glands secrete their secretion (hormones) directly into the blood. Examples are; the pituitary gland, thyroid glands, etc.

Different endocrine glands are present in humans. For example, Gonads, the Pituitary, Thyroid, Pancreas, Pineal, Hypothalamus, and adrenal glands.

Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus is part of both the nervous system and the endocrine system. It regulates the function of the pituitary gland. It is present below the thalamus.

Hormones Released: 

• Releasing hormone (RH): Helps in the stimulation of the pituitary gland, for example; Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) stimulates the secretion of gonadotropins.
• Inhibiting hormone (IH): Helps in inhibiting the activated pituitary gland to stop its secretion, for example; somatostatin inhibits the secretion of growth hormone.

Pituitary Gland

The pituitary Gland is called the master gland as it regulates the function of all the glands of the body. Have three lobes; the anterior lobe, intermediate lobe, and posterior lobe. Present just below the hypothalamus.

Hormones Released:

• Growth hormone (GH): Promotes and regulates the growth of the body. Its deficiency in childhood will cause dwarfism and excess can cause gigantism.
• Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): It stimulates the adrenal glands to produce corticosteroid hormone that helps in regulating stress.
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): It stimulates the thyroid glands to secrete thyroxin hormone.
• Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH): It is a gonadotropin that stimulates the male testis to produce sperm cells, and in females, it stimulates the ovaries to produce the ovum.
• Luteinizing hormone (LH): It is a gonadotropin that stimulates the production of testosterone in males and progesterone in females.
• Prolactin hormone (PRL): Regulates the growth of mammary glands and the formation of milk in females during pregnancy and lactation. 
• Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone: Regulates the formation of melanocytes that produces melanin pigment responsible for the color of skin.
• Oxytocin: Stimulation rigorous contraction in the uterus during childbirth and release of milk from mammary glands during lactation.
• Vasopressin or Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): Regulates the concentration of water and electrolytes in the body.

Pineal Gland

• It is a small reddish, pea-sized gland.
• Location: Between the two cerebral hemispheres
• Hormones: It releases melatonin (sleep hormone) that regulates the sleep-wake cycle of the body.

Also Read: Pineal Gland

Thyroid Glands

• It has two joined lobes.
• Location: Either side of the trachea.
  Hormones: 2 hormones are released by the thyroid gland:
  • Thyroxin (T₄) and triiodothyronine  (T₃): Regulates the rate of cellular metabolism of the body thus maintaining the basal metabolic rate (BMR) of the body. 
  • Calcitonin: Lowers the calcium levels of the body.

Also Read: Thyroid Gland

Parathyroid Glands

• It has four small pea-shaped bodies.
• Location: back side of the thyroid glands.
• Hormones: They secrete parathormone (PTH) that regulates the levels of calcium and phosphorus in the body.

Also Read: Parathyroid Gland

Thymus Gland

• It starts degenerating in old age.
• Location: Near the front side of the heat under the sternum.
• Hormones: It secretes thymosin which helps in the formation of lymphocytes thus strengthening the immune system.

Also Read: Thymus Gland

Adrenal Glands

Adrenal Gland is two small glands. These are also called the suprarenal glands. It has two regions; the outer region is called the cortex and the inner region is called the medulla. Present on the top of each kidney.

Hormones Released:

• Glucocorticoids: Corticoid hormones that regulate the metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates in the body. It also regulates blood pressure and heart rate. Cortisol is the most abundant of all corticoids.
• Aldosterone: Regulates the water and electrolyte balance of the body.
• Sexcorticoids: Stimulates the development of secondary sexual characters in both males and females.
• Adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (nor-epinephrine):  Controls the fight-and-flight response of the body regulating emotion, fear, anger, blood pressure, etc.

Pancreas

Pancreas is heterocrine gland. The endocrine region of the pancreas is the secretory cells of the islet of Langerhans. Present in the abdominal region, posterior to the stomach. 

Hormones Released:

1. Insulin: Lower the blood glucose levels by converting glucose into glycogen. When this hormone is deficient it results in diabetes mellitus that causes high glucose levels in blood and urine.
2. Glucagon: When the concentration of glucose becomes less in blood this hormone converts glycogen into glucose and increases the levels of glucose.

Ovary

• Location: Lower abdominal region.
  Hormones: 2 types of hormones present those are:
  • Estrogen and Progesterone: Female sex hormones that are responsible for ovulation, maintaining the pregnancy, development of secondary sexual characteristics, and the regulation of the menstrual cycle.
  • Relaxin: During childbirth, this hormone relaxes the uterus and pelvic region of the female.

Testes

• Location: In scrotal sacs outside the body in the lower abdomen.
• Hormones: They secrete the hormone testosterone that regulates the development of sperm cells and secondary sexual characters in males. 

NCERT Class 10 Science Notes Chapter 6: Control and Coordination in the living organism mean the ability to control and coordinate different body functions to complement each other. Separately control means the ability of our body to have power of regulation over any mechanism whereas coordination means the process by which all the different parts of the body work together to produce the desired outcome. You will find the NCERT Control and Coordination Notes for Chapter 6 Class 10 Notes here.