CHAPTER 4: Body balance 85

4.4 The endocrine system hypothalamus

pituitary gland
A gland is an organ that produces a useful substance
that is used somewhere in the body. The release of
useful substances is called secretion. There are parathyroid gland
different types of glands. Some glands, such as the
thyroid gland
salivary glands in the mouth, and the pancreas,
secrete their substances through ducts or tubes that
empty directly into where they are needed. Other
glands, called endocrine glands, have no ducts at all.
They secrete chemicals called hormones into the adrenal gland
bloodstream. The hormones travel around in the kidney
blood causing changes to target tissue in the body. A pancreas
target tissue is the part of the body that the hormone
affects. Together these ductless glands make up the
endocrine system. The major organs in this system
are shown in the diagram. Some of the functions of ovary
these organs are described in the table below.
Nerve impulses produce a short, quick response in
the body. Hormones are produced in tiny amounts
testis
and affect the body more slowly. However, the effects
are long-lasting.

Endocrine gland Hormone Target tissue Main effects

hypothalamus vasopressin kidneys controls water loss from the kidneys
pituitary thyroid-stimulating thyroid alters the rate of thyroxine released from the thyroid
hormone
antidiuretic kidneys reduces the amount of water reabsorbed from the
hormone kidneys
pituitary growth bones, muscles controls the size of bones and stimulates muscle growth
hormone
thyroid thyroxine body cells affects the rate of body metabolism, affects physical and
mental development
calcitonin blood decreases the amount of calcium in the blood
parathyroid (found on parathyroid blood increases the amount of calcium in the blood
top of the thyroid) hormone
pancreas (islets of insulin liver, most cells reduces the level of glucose in the blood and increases
Langerhans) the production of glycogen
glucagon liver increases the level of glucose in the blood, glycogen is
broken down
adrenal glands (on top adrenalin body cells increases the metabolism of the body to fight or run, e.g.
of the kidneys) heart rate increases
ovary progesterone uterus causes thickening of uterus walls
oestrogen body cells causes female sexual characteristics to develop
testes testosterone male reproductive causes sperm to be produced, and the development of
system, male sexual characteristics
body cells

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86 SCIENCE ESSENTIALS 9 FOR NSW Stage 5

SKILL
Interpreting diagrams
It is possible to explain and compare body systems by a What is the difference between a stimulus and
using diagrams. If you are asked to interpret a diagram, a response?
find the meanings of any words you dont know and make b For diagram A, what does secreted hormones
sure you study the diagram thoroughly before answering mean? What is target tissue?
any questions.
c For diagram B, what are receptors and what are
1 The following two diagrams explain and compare the effectors? Give an example of each.
endocrine and nervous systems. Look at these diagrams
d Why is a dotted line used in diagram A, but not in
and then answer the questions.
diagram B?
A Endocrine system e What are three differences between the two
systems? Are there any similarities? Explain.
stimulus
2 Look at the three diagrams below.
A

endocrine secreted hormones

stimulus gland blood target
organs
tissue

hormones carried
in the blood

stimulus nerve effector

target tissue response

B Nervous system
C

stimulus nerve gland target

stimulus blood vessel
tissue

sensory neurone
receptors a Explain diagrams A and B. Do you think these
diagrams adequately represent each system?
Explain.
b Draw your own diagram to represent each system.
central nervous system c If you are ever put in a situation in which you are in
(brain and spinal cord)
danger and need to fight or run for your life, your
body releases adrenalin. The effect of this hormone
motor neurone is described in the table on the previous page. Which
of the models above would best describe a situation
effectors response where you realise you are in danger and need to run
for your life? Explain.

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 CHAPTER 4: Body balance 87

Feedback mechanisms The contraceptive pill contains synthetic

compounds that prevent the release of hormones
Glands in the endocrine system control other needed for eggs to develop and ovulation to occur.
endocrine organs and how the body functions, using
feedback mechanisms. This is where information that 4 Ovulation 5 Progesterone is produced
occurs. by ovary that
is sent out in a system returns to the same source, released egg.
providing information (feeding back) to the source
about what is going on in the system. This then
affects the outputs of the system. For example, the
6
hypothalamus and the pituitary gland in the brain 1 Eggs develop If no fertilisation takes
monitor the levels of thyroxine in the body. The in the ovary. place progesterone
levels drop.
thyroid gland produces thyroxine, as shown in the
2 Oestrogen is 7 Uterus lining
diagram below. produced. is shed.
uterus
3 Uterus lining
1 Hypothalamus thickens.
detects low levels cervix
of thyroxine.
vagina

2 Hypothalamus
stimulates the
pituitary gland,
5 Thyroid gland which makes the
stops producing thyroid gland
thyroxine. produce thyroxine. INQUIRY
7 Writing a poem

4 High levels of
thyroxine
switch off the
action of the
pituitary gland
and hypothalamus. THYROXINE
3 Affects the rate of
body metabolism.
The menstrual cycle
Progesterone and oestrogen are two hormones
thatcontrol the menstrual cycle. At the beginning of
this cycle the lining of the uterus is thin. As eggs start
to develop in the ovary, oestrogen is produced,
causing the lining of the uterus to thicken. When one
egg has developed fully, it is released from the ovary
and this is called ovulation. The part of the ovary that
released the egg then produces progesterone. This
hormone prepares the uterus to accept the egg if it is
fertilised (joined with a sperm). About 11 days after
ovulation, if the egg is not fertilised, progesterone
production falls and the lining of the uterus is shed.
This is commonly called having a period. The
hypothalamus in the brain detects the falling levels of
progesterone. It activates the pituitary gland to
produce a hormone to start the development of eggs
in the ovaries again. The cycle is then repeated.
Here is the start of the poem that describes the
differences between the endocrine and nervous
systems. Add two more verses to finish it.
In the nervous system, messages are fast.
They skip along a neuron and across a synapse.
In the endocrine system, messages are slow.
Hormones are messengers, from glands they go.
Over to you
1 What is an endocrine gland and how is it different
from other glands in the body?
2 Explain how the changes produced by adrenalin
help the body face danger.
3 Name the hormones that control:
a the rate of body metabolism
b the menstrual cycle
c the development of sexual characteristics in
males.
4 Draw two overlapping circles. In one circle write
down all the points you know about the nervous
system. In the other circle write down what you
know about the endocrine system. In the
overlapping parts of the circle note any points
about the nervous and endocrine systems that
are the same.

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