Hereditary and Hormones

Heredity and Hormones

Terri McCathern

BEH/225

March 18, 2011

Anita Mamoran

Heredity and Hormones

Endocrine glands make up the endocrine system, which helps the nervous system regulate various body activities. The glands secrete hormones that travel through the blood to all parts of the body. When a hormone reaches its destination, whether an organ or tissue, it causes the body to perform certain actions. Hormones regulate body processes such as growth and development, reproduction, among others. Certain hormones affect the body’s responses to stress and keep the chemical composition of the blood where it should be. The process in which the body changes food into energy and living tissue is also controlled by hormones (Axia College, 2011, Week One Supplement).

The glands that make up the endocrine system are the pineal gland, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroids, adrenal glands, pancreas, and the gonads, which are ovaries in females and testes in males. Each gland secretes a hormone that has a certain function. The pineal gland secretes melatonin, which controls the sleep-wake cycles. The pituitary gland secretes many hormones that control several body functions. These functions include blood pressure, thirst, sexual behavior and interest, amount of water in the body’s cells, contractions during labor, milk production, and body growth. The thyroid gland secretes thyroxin, which regulates the metabolism rate in the body. The parathyroids secrete a parathormone, which controls the levels of calcium and phosphate in the blood. The adrenal glands secrete several hormones such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones control the body’s reaction to stress. The pancreas secretes two hormones; insulin and glucagon. These hormones counteract each other to help keep the blood-sugar level balanced in the body. The ovaries produce estrogens, which stimulate the development of female sex organs and sexual characteristics. They also stimulate female...