Hormone Health
- LFM Admin
- Oct 12, 2022
- 5 min read
The Important Role of Your Endocrine System & Hormone Health
What Are Hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers responsible for many different functions in your body and are essential for your health and life.
Several of your glands, organs, and tissues make and release hormones signaling your body what to do and when. Your endocrine system is made up of many of these.
Your body produces more than 50 different hormones and controls many bodily processes.
These include:
Metabolism
Mood
Growth & Development
Sleep-Wake Cycle
Sexual Function
Reproduction
Homeostasis (Internal balance including blood sugar and blood pressure regulation, body temperature, and fluid and electrolyte balance.)
Your Endocrine System
Consists of a group of glands where most hormones are made and released directly into your bloodstream.
These Include:
Adrenal Glands
Pituitary Gland
Pineal Gland
Thyroid
Parathyroid Glands
Pancreas
Ovaries
Testes
Other organs that release hormones which are considered part of the endocrine system include:
Kidneys
Liver
Gastrointestinal Tract
Adipose Fat Tissue
Placenta
Glands are organs that make one or more substances such as:
Hormones
Sweat
Tears
Digestive Juices
Pituitary Gland
A pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain directly below your hypothalamus consisting of anterior and posterior lobes.
Responsible for releasing several hormones controlling the functions of your endocrine glands.
Anterior Pituitary Makes and releases six hormones which include:
ACTH-Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
FSH-Folicle-Stimulating Hormone
HGH-Human Growth Hormone
LH-Lutenizing Hormone
Prolactin
TSH-Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
Posterior Pituitary
ADH-Antidiuretic Hormone (Vasopressin)
Oxytocin
Hypothalamus
Small area of the brain that connects your pituitary gland through your pituitary stalk.
Responsible for making and releasing several hormones that control your pituitary gland.
These include:
Dopamine
Corticotropin-releasing Hormones
Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone
Thyrotropin-releasing Hormone
Somatostatin
Oxytocin (Made in your hypothalamus, stored and released by the pituitary.)
Pineal Gland
Tiny gland located beneath the back part of the corpus collosum of your brain where the two parts of your brain are connected.
Responsible for the release of melatonin needed to regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
Thyroid Gland
Small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck responsible for controlling your metabolism. (How your body transforms food consumed into energy.)
Releases hormones such as:
T3-Triiodothyronine
T4-Thyroxine
Calcitonin
Parathyroid Gland
Four tiny glands located behind your thyroid gland.
Responsible for releasing PTH-parathyroid hormone which balances the calcium in your blood and bones.
Adrenal Glands
Small, triangle-shaped glands which sit on top of your kidneys known as suprarenal glands.
Responsible for making hormones such as:
Cortisol
Adrenaline (Epinephrine)
Noradrenaline (Norepinephrine)
Aldosterone
DHEA
Androgens
Pancreas
Small organ located in the back of your abdomen and is part of the digestive and endocrine systems.
Endocrine cells or islet cells in your pancreas are responsible for making hormones such as:
Insulin
Glucagon
What Are Hormones?
Hormones are chemical messengers responsible for many different functions in your body and are essential for your health and life.
Several of your glands, organs, and tissues make and release hormones signaling your body what to do and when. Your endocrine system is made up of many of these.
Your body produces more than 50 different hormones and controls many bodily processes.
These include:
Metabolism
Mood
Growth & Development
Sleep-Wake Cycle
Sexual Function
Reproduction
Homeostasis (Internal balance including blood sugar and blood pressure regulation, body temperature, and fluid and electrolyte balance.)
Your Endocrine System
Consists of a group of glands where most hormones are made and released directly into your bloodstream.
These Include:
Adrenal Glands
Pituitary Gland
Pineal Gland
Thyroid
Parathyroid Glands
Pancreas
Ovaries
Testes
Other organs that release hormones which are considered part of the endocrine system include:
Kidneys
Liver
Gastrointestinal Tract
Adipose Fat Tissue
Placenta
Glands are organs that make one or more substances such as:
Hormones
Sweat
Tears
Digestive Juices
Pituitary Gland
A pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain directly below your hypothalamus consisting of anterior and posterior lobes.
Responsible for releasing several hormones controlling the functions of your endocrine glands.
Anterior Pituitary
Makes and releases six hormones which include:
ACTH-Adrenocorticotropic Hormone
FSH-Folicle-Stimulating Hormone
HGH-Human Growth Hormone
LH-Lutenizing Hormone
Prolactin
TSH-Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
Posterior Pituitary
ADH-Antidiuretic Hormone (Vasopressin)
Oxytocin
Hypothalamus
Small area of the brain that connects your pituitary gland through your pituitary stalk.
Responsible for making and releasing several hormones that control your pituitary gland.
These include:
Dopamine
Corticotropin-releasing Hormones
Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone
Thyrotropin-releasing Hormone
Somatostatin
Oxytocin (Made in your hypothalamus, stored and released by the pituitary.)
Pineal Gland
Tiny gland located beneath the back part of the corpus collosum of your brain where the two parts of your brain are connected.
Responsible for the release of melatonin needed to regulate your sleep-wake cycle.
Thyroid Gland
Small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck responsible for controlling your metabolism. (How your body transforms food consumed into energy.)
Releases hormones such as:
T3-Triiodothyronine
T4-Thyroxine
Calcitonin
Parathyroid Gland
Four tiny glands located behind your thyroid gland.
Responsible for releasing PTH-parathyroid hormone which balances the calcium in your blood and bones.
Adrenal Glands
Small, triangle-shaped glands which sit on top of your kidneys known as suprarenal glands.
Responsible for making hormones such as:
Cortisol
Adrenaline (Epinephrine)
Noradrenaline (Norepinephrine)
Aldosterone
DHEA
Androgens
Pancreas
Small organ located in the back of your abdomen and is part of the digestive and endocrine systems.
Endocrine cells or islet cells in your pancreas are responsible for making hormones such as:
Insulin
Glucagon
Gastrointestinal Tract
Long tube that runs the length of your digestive tract starting at your mouth ending at your anus.
Responsible for digestion and creating hormones such as:
Ghrelin
Somatostatin Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)
Kidneys
Two bean-shaped organs which are a part of your urinary system which filter your blood and produce the following hormones:
Renin
Erythropoietin
Active form of Vitamin D (Vitamin D is a pro-hormone which converts your body into a hormone.)
Liver
Essential organ and gland which is a part of your digestive system and performs hundreds of functions.
Responsible for producing hormones such as:
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
Angiotensinogen
Adipose (Fat) Tissue
Located all over your body including under your skin, between muscles, around internal organs, breast tissue, and in bone marrow often referred to as body fat.
Makes and releases the following hormones:
Adiponectin
Estrogen
Angiotensin
Leptin
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1
Ovaries
Located on both sides of the uterus below the opening of the fallopian tubes and are part of the female reproductive system.
Contains the egg cells needed for reproduction and produces hormones such as:
Estrogen
Progesterone
Testosterone
Testes
Pair located in a pouch outside the body below the penis and are part of the male reproductive system.
Responsible for producing sperm and the hormone:
Testosterone
Placenta
Temporary organ the develops during pregnancy providing oxygen and nutrients to the unborn baby.
Responsible for producing hormones to maintain pregnancy. These include:
Estrogen
Progesterone
Conditions Caused By Hormone Disorders
Too much or too little hormones can create symptoms and potentially lead to health conditions and may require treatment.
Hormone-related Conditions:
Diabetes (Types 1 & 2, Gestational)
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
Infertility (Male & Female)
Thyroid Disease (Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism)
Obesity
Addison's Disease
Menopause
Cushing's Disease
Prolactinoma
Causes of Hormonal Imbalance
Can result due to multiple causes such as:
Adenomas and Tumors
Damage to Endocrine Gland
Auto-immune Disorders
Hereditary Gene Mutations
Kidneys
Two bean-shaped organs which are a part of your urinary system which filter your blood and produce the following hormones:
Renin
Erythropoietin
Active form of Vitamin D (Vitamin D is a pro-hormone which converts your body into a hormone.)
Liver
Essential organ and gland which is a part of your digestive system and performs hundreds of functions.
Responsible for producing hormones such as:
Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
Angiotensinogen
Adipose (Fat) Tissue
Located all over your body including under your skin, between muscles, around internal organs, breast tissue, and in bone marrow often referred to as body fat.
Makes and releases the following hormones:
Adiponectin
Estrogen
Angiotensin
Leptin
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1
Ovaries
Located on both sides of the uterus below the opening of the fallopian tubes and are part of the female reproductive system.
Contains the egg cells needed for reproduction and produces hormones such as:
Estrogen
Progesterone
Testosterone
Testes
Pair located in a pouch outside the body below the penis and are part of the male reproductive system.
Responsible for producing sperm and the hormone
Testosterone
Placenta
Temporary organ the develops during pregnancy providing oxygen and nutrients to the unborn baby.
Responsible for producing hormones to maintain pregnancy.
These include:
Estrogen
Progesterone
Conditions Caused By Hormone Disorders
Too much or too little hormones can create symptoms and potentially lead to health conditions and may require treatment.
Hormone-related Conditions:
Diabetes (Types 1 & 2, Gestational)
PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)
Infertility (Male & Female)
Thyroid Disease (Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism)
Obesity
Addison's Disease
Menopause
Cushing's Disease
Prolactinoma
Causes of Hormonal Imbalance Can result due to multiple causes such as:
Adenomas and Tumors
Damage to Endocrine Gland
Auto-immune Disorders
Hereditary Gene Mutations
