The collection of glands around the body that produce hormones. These glands include the thyroid gland, pancreas, testes, ovaries, and adrenal glands. Their hormones are responsible for numerous bodily processes, including growth, metabolism, sexual development and function, and response to stress. Any increase or decrease in the production of a specific hormone interferes with the process it controls. To prevent under- or overproduction, hormone secretion from many endocrine glands is regulated by the pituitary gland, which is in turn influenced by the hypothalamus in the brain according to a feedback mechanism.
Endocrine system |
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