Endocrine System Overview - Anatomy & Physiology
The Endocrine System
Comprised of a group of glands, the endocrine system secretes hormones into the bloodstream which may have their effects on tissues and organs far from where they were produced. The function of the endocrine system is to integrate with the nervous system to control the physiology of the body systems.
The endocrine system is under control of the nervous system with close association between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, which acts to co-ordinate many of the body's other endocrine glands.
Many of the endocrine glands have a similar basic structure, composed of clusters of secretory cells of epithelial origin. Hormones are secreted into the interstitial space wherby they are rapidly absorbed into the circulatory system. In contrast the exocrine system has a duct system and so can secrete its contents directly into its target area.
Here we will consider the main endocrine glands and their functional anatomy and pathology: