
What are the three main functions of the endocrine system?
What are the 5 main functions of the endocrine system?
- Metabolism (the way you break down food and get energy from nutrients).
- Growth and development.
- Emotions and mood.
- Fertility and sexual function.
- Sleep.
- Blood pressure.
How do drugs effect the endocrine system?
How do drugs affect the endocrine system? Drugs can cause endocrine abnormalities via different mechanisms, including direct alteration of hormone production, changes in the regulation of the hormonal axis, effects on hormonal transport, binding, and signalling, as well as similar changes to counter-regulatory hormone systems .
What are the diseases affecting the endocrine system?
What are the main endocrine gland disorders?
- Diabetes. Diabetes is an endocrine disease characterized by a lack of insulin in the blood, a hormone produced by the pancreas that is responsible for allowing glucose (from food) ...
- Hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is a common endocrine disease that occurs when the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormones.
- Hypothyroidism. ...
- Addison’s disease. ...
How does the central nervous system affect your behavior?
This system plays a large role in preparing the body to rest and for digestion. It also plays a part in reproduction, crying, salvation and the release of bodily waste. Both of these behavioral responses to the environment and stimuli are part of the central nervous system. The central nervous system is made up of the brain and the spinal cord.

How does the endocrine influence behavior?
Generally speaking, hormones change gene expression or cellular function, and affect behavior by increasing the likelihood that specific behaviors occur in the presence of precise stimuli. Hormones achieve this by affecting individuals' sensory systems, central integrators, and/or peripherial effectors.
How does the endocrine system control behavior?
Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream. This lets the hormones travel to cells in other parts of the body. The endocrine hormones help control mood, growth and development, the way our organs work, metabolism , and reproduction. The endocrine system regulates how much of each hormone is released.
How does the endocrine system affect mood?
Controlled by a structure in your brain called the hypothalamus, your hormones make a big difference in your emotional state, causing both good and bad mood patterns. Regulating your hormones can significantly improve and balance your emotional health and resolve mood disorders.
Which systems have the most influence on behavior?
The nervous system- Includes the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system. The nervous system is responsible for regulating and determining someone's behavior in his or her environment. Neurons (e.g., the reflex arc)- specialized cells that pick up and transmit nerve impulses.
How do the nervous system and endocrine system affect behavior?
Human behavior, in all its complexity, is partly the product of interactions between two key physical components: the nervous and endocrine systems. These two systems help regulate the electrical and chemical processes that relay information throughout and between the brain and body.
How do hormones affect human behavior and emotions?
Surges in hormones like oxytocin and dopamine can drive feelings of happiness, contentment, or excitement, while drops in hormones like estrogen and progesterone may trigger negatively charged mood swings. Dips in testosterone may correlate with low mood; excessive testosterone may trigger rage or aggression.
Which hormone is responsible for anger?
Testosterone activates the subcortical areas of the brain to produce aggression, while cortisol and serotonin act antagonistically with testosterone to reduce its effects.
How does the endocrine system contribute to depression?
Decreased levels of estrogen can alter the activity of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine, which can then lead to depression.
What role does the endocrine system play in psychology?
The hypothalamus is key to many areas of human behavior, including sex drive, hunger, and our emotions. The endocrine system releases hormones, and hormones impact the systems that cause changes in our behavior, including changes in what we might call biological motivations (things like hunger and sex drive).
What are the 3 ways endocrine glands are controlled?
There are three mechanisms by which endocrine glands are stimulated to synthesize and release hormones: humoral stimuli, hormonal stimuli, and neural stimuli.
How does the endocrine system related to psychology?
The study of psychology and the endocrine system is called behavioral endocrinology, which is the scientific study of the interaction between hormones and behavior. This interaction is bidirectional: hormones can influence behavior, and behavior can sometimes influence hormone concentrations.
What are examples of endocrine control?
Examples of such processes include: blood sugar control (insulin); differentiation, growth, and function of reproductive organs (testosterone (T) and estradiol); and. body growth and energy production (growth hormone and thyroid hormone).
What is the relationship between the endocrine system and the brain?
Relationship between Behavior and the Endocrine System. According to different studies conducted over the years, it is the hypothalamus in the brain and the pituitary gland that are responsible for motivated behaviors. You will be interested to know that it isn’t only the hormones that have such a great impact on behavior.
Could it be a Problem?
Yes actually it can be. When behaviors or mood swings are disruptive and out of control, there are chances that you are suffering from some kind of hormonal imbalance, not necessarily a mental breakdown. Studies clearly depict that when people are facing thyroid issues, problems with their pituitary gland or sex hormones then there is likelihood of some kind of mood disorder as well.
What would happen if the endocrine system was not functioning?
In simple words, if it wasn’t for the endocrine system, our body would not be able to function at all.
Why is the endocrine system important?
But the endocrine system does not work alone. It coordinates with the nervous system in order to control behaviors and moods. This is the reason why it is said to play a very important role in the way emotions can flare up. Think of it this way, if you are under stress, your body starts producing copious amounts of the hormone cortisol. In turn, this activates your system for a fight or flight action. What’s more, excessive amount of cortisol can lead to feelings of depression and moods of irritability.
What happens if you have a hormone imbalance?
Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, Hashimoto’s disease, PCOS, erectile dysfunction are all related to hormonal imbalance and can lead to serious problems with mental health.
Why are our actions controlled by our brain?
Reason? Our actions are controlled by our brain and they are based on the way our hormones act within the body. To be able to understand the relation between the two, you will first need to understand what the endocrine system is, what it does, what behavior is and why it’s dependent on the endocrine system.
Why is it not easy to understand who controls who?
It is not easy to understand who controls who because behavior and hormones are too closely linked to be separated and analyzed up close. They are both dependent on each other and one cannot truly change one without effecting the other.
What are the ways of studying the brain?
Modern ways of studying the brain. Endocrine system and influence on behavior - Part 1. This is the currently selected item. Endocrine system and influence on behavior - Part 2. Next lesson.
Is the thyroid gland an endocrine gland?
Yes. Endo means the gland releases the chemical it makes inside the body so it travels in blood, those chemicals are hormones.So the thyroid gland releases thyroid hormones, it is an endocrine gland. Exocrine means the chemical goes outside the body, the salivary and sweat glands are Exocrine glands.
What is secondary ch?
Secondary ch. are not directly involved in reproduction but make the possible mate more attractive (depending on the species)in the sexual selection (fighting off other males or raising the offspring, for example female breasts or huge antlers and so on).
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What is the thyroid gland?
The Thyroid Gland: The thyroid gland secretes thyroxin which influences the metabolic rate and the growth & development of the body. Deficiency of thyroid in infants may cause feeblemindedness or cretinism. Poor quality thyroxin may cause gland enlargement or goitre. Deficiency of thyroid in adults may lead to a condition called myxedema or being overweight. Excess secretion of thyroid can cause Grave’s disease.
What is the function of the endocrine system?
Endocrine system secretes chemicals called hormones throughout our body which influence our feelings, moods and behaviour. Endocrine system is composed of glands which is a group of cells that secrete hormones. Various glands perform various functions related to maintenance and growth of human body by secreting hormones.
What is the nervous system?
Nervous system protects our body from various dangers by following a sequence of interpretation and reaction to the stimuli. Endocrine system secretes chemicals called hormones throughout our body which influence our feelings, moods and behaviour. Endocrine system is composed of glands which is a group of cells that secrete hormones. Various glands perform various functions related to maintenance and growth of human body by secreting hormones. Glands can be categorized into 2 types: 1 Duct or Exocrine Glands: These glands carry the chemical components to the different body parts with the help of ducts or tubes. Example of this could be tear glands. 2 Ductless or Endocrine Glands: These glands directly secrete the chemical substances called hormones into the bloodstream which is further carried to different body organs and tissues. Hormones stimulate body growth and influence our metabolic process.
What hormones are secreted by the gonads?
The male gonads are called testes which secrete the male hormones called testosterone. Testosterone regulates the sexual development, sexual characteristics, physical appearance related changes, drive for sex and sexual behaviour in males in males and equally influences the psychological well-being.
Which glands are involved in the endocrine system?
Various kinds of endocrine glands are the hypothalamus, the pineal gland, the thyroid, the testes, the ovaries and the pituitary gland. Each gland has its unique function to perform and affect the functioning of the human body and behaviour differently. The hypothalamus connects the endocrine system with the nervous system, ...
Why is chemical disequilibrium a problem?
Chemical disequilibrium can result because of the over activity or below optimum functioning of any of the endocrine glands, which may lead to both physiological and psychological abnormalities. Endocrine glands may be subdivided into the categories of minor and major glands.
What are the effects of gonad dysfunction?
A dysfunction of the gonads may lead to serious psychological issues. The female sex glands or the ovaries, secrete the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen influences the development of the female sexual organs, sexual characteristics, behavioural changes, drive and motivation for sex.
What are the functions of the adrenal glands?
The adrenal glands produce hormones that regulate salt and water balance in the body, and they are involved in metabolism, the immune system, and sexual development and function . The most important function of the adrenal glands is to secrete the hormones epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) and norepinephrine (also known as noradrenaline) when we are excited, threatened, or stressed. Epinephrine and norepinephrine stimulate the sympathetic division of the ANS, causing increased heart and lung activity, dilation of the pupils, and increases in blood sugar, which give the body a surge of energy to respond to a threat. The activity and role of the adrenal glands in response to stress provides an excellent example of the close relationship and interdependency of the nervous and endocrine systems. A quick-acting nervous system is essential for immediate activation of the adrenal glands, while the endocrine system mobilizes the body for action.
How do hormones affect the body?
A hormone is a chemical that moves throughout the body to help regulate emotions and behaviors . When the hormones released by one gland arrive at receptor tissues or other glands, these receiving receptors may trigger the release of other hormones, resulting in a series of complex chemical chain reactions. The endocrine system works together with the nervous system to influence many aspects of human behavior, including growth, reproduction, and metabolism. And the endocrine system plays a vital role in emotions. Because the glands in men and women differ, hormones also help explain some of the observed behavioral differences between men and women. The major glands in the endocrine system are shown in Figure 3.15 .
Which glands regulate hormones?
Hormones produced by the pituitary and adrenal glands regulate growth, stress, sexual functions, and chemical balance in the body.
Which glands regulate the wake cycle?
Other glands in the endocrine system include the pancreas, which secretes hormones designed to keep the body supplied with fuel to produce and maintain stores of energy; the pineal gland , located in the middle of the brain, which secretes melatonin, a hormone that helps regulate the wake-sleep cycle; and the thyroid and parathyroid glands, which are responsible for determining how quickly the body uses energy and hormones, and controlling the amount of calcium in the blood and bones.
What is the function of the nervous system?
But a primary function of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems is to interact with the endocrine system to elicit chemicals that provide another system for influencing our feelings and behaviors.
Does testosterone cause aggression?
It must be kept in mind that the observed relationships between testosterone levels and aggressive behavior that have been found in these studies do not prove that testosterone causes aggression—the relationships are only correlational. In fact, there is evidence that the relationship between violence and testosterone also goes in the other direction: Playing an aggressive game, such as tennis or even chess, increases the testosterone levels of the winners and decreases the testosterone levels of losers (Gladue, Boechler, & McCaul, 1989; Mazur, Booth, & Dabbs, 1992), 5 and perhaps this is why excited soccer fans sometimes riot when their team wins.

The Endocrine System
Behavior
- When thought of scientifically and in the words of Wikipedia, behavior is “the range of actions and mannerisms made by individuals or systems in conjunction with themselves or their environment, which includes the other organisms around as well as the physical environment”. This behavior is hugely impacted by the endocrine system. Humans have a complex nervous system. They learn …
Relationship Between Behavior and The Endocrine System
- According to different studies conducted over the years, it is the hypothalamus in the brain and the pituitary gland that are responsible for motivated behaviors. You will be interested to know that it isn’t only the hormones that have such a great impact on behavior. Behavior can also control hormones. Surprising? Let’s see how this works. Conside...
Could It Be A Problem?
- Yes actually it can be. When behaviors or mood swings are disruptive and out of control, there are chances that you are suffering from some kind of hormonal imbalance, not necessarily a mental breakdown. Studies clearly depict that when people are facing thyroid issues, problems with their pituitary gland or sex hormones then there is likelihood of some kind of mood disorder as well. T…