Final answer:
The endocrine system is made up of glands that secrete hormones, including the pituitary, pancreas, thyroid, ovaries or testes, and adrenal glands. It is vital for regulating body functions like metabolism, growth, and sexual development, with the pituitary gland serving as the master gland.
Step-by-step explanation:
The endocrine system includes the pituitary, pancreas, thyroid, ovaries/testes, and the adrenal glands. These glands secrete hormones that are instrumental in regulating various body functions such as metabolism, growth, and sexual development.
The pituitary gland is often termed the master gland of the endocrine system because most of the hormones it produces control other endocrine glands. This includes the thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, gonads (testes and ovaries), and others such as the pancreas and pineal gland. The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate the body's metabolic rate, while the adrenal glands secrete hormones that help the body respond to stress and regulate blood pressure. The pancreas plays a dual role by contributing to digestion and also secreting insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood glucose levels.
It's important to note that some of these glands, like the pancreas, have both endocrine and exocrine functions. The gonads, which include the ovaries in females and the testes in males, secrete sex hormones that influence sexual development and function. The various hormones released by these glands travel through the bloodstream, affecting tissues and organs to maintain homeostasis within the human body.