| Hypothalamus |
releasing and inhibiting hormones |
regulate hormone release from pituitary gland; produce oxytocin; produce uterine contractions and milk secretion in females |
| antidiuretic hormone (ADH) |
water reabsorption from kidneys; vasoconstriction to increase blood pressure |
| Pituitary (Anterior) |
growth hormone (GH) |
promotes growth of body tissues, protein synthesis; metabolic functions |
| prolactin (PRL) |
promotes milk production |
| thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) |
stimulates thyroid hormone release |
| adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) |
stimulates hormone release by adrenal cortex, glucocorticoids |
| follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) |
stimulates gamete production (both ova and sperm); secretion of estradiol |
| luteinizing hormone (LH) |
stimulates androgen production by gonads; ovulation, secretion of progesterone |
| melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) |
stimulates melanocytes of the skin increasing melanin pigment production. |
| Pituitary (Posterior) |
antidiuretic hormone (ADH) |
stimulates water reabsorption by kidneys |
| oxytocin |
stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth; milk ejection; stimulates ductus deferens and prostate gland contraction during emission |
| Thyroid |
thyroxine, triiodothyronine |
stimulate and maintain metabolism; growth and development |
| calcitonin |
reduces blood Ca2+ levels |
| Parathyroid |
parathyroid hormone (PTH) |
increases blood Ca2+ levels |
| Adrenal (Cortex) |
aldosterone |
increases blood Na+ levels; increase K+ secretion |
| cortisol, corticosterone, cortisone |
increase blood glucose levels; anti-inflammatory effects |
| Adrenal (Medulla) |
epinephrine, norepinephrine |
stimulate fight-or-flight response; increase blood gluclose levels; increase metabolic activities |
| Pancreas |
insulin |
reduces blood glucose levels |
| glucagon |
increases blood glucose levels |
| Pineal gland |
melatonin |
regulates some biological rhythms and protects CNS from free radicals |
| Testes |
androgens |
regulate, promote, increase or maintain sperm production; male secondary sexual characteristics |
| Ovaries |
estrogen |
promotes uterine lining growth; female secondary sexual characteristics |
| progestins |
promote and maintain uterine lining growth |