The Endocrine System

The endocrine system is very dynamic and has ties to most, if not all of the other major systems of the body. It is responsible for production of hormones and the regulation of them as well. These hormones act as chemical messengers within the body. Through several differing mechanisms, they are able to trigger very specific responses in target cells or organs. This is what enables the endocrine system to guide growth, development, reproduction, and behavior, among many others as well. The hormones produced from the endocrine system come from a wide range of different places. Among those responsible for hormone production are the glands and a few organs as well. The glands that are involved are the pituitary, thyroid, thymus, parathyroid, and adrenal. The organs, which also play a vital part, are the pancreas, gonads, kidneys, heart, and parts of the digestive tract. All these different glands or organs work together in the production of certain hormones. Those produced in one location will almost always have an effect on many other areas of the body, not just the surrounding tissues. An analogy that fits very well with the study of the endocrine system is that of a message in a bottle. We can think of the body as a river, and a specific hormone
At first glance, they were almost considered a miracle substance. They were used in electrical capacitors, adhesives, oils, and paints, among several other things due to their flame-retardant capabilities. This was all found irrelevant in the 1960’s when the U.S. began testing the substance. It was shown to have carcinogenic effects in mice, so its production was eventually banned in the United States in the late 70’s. We have now discovered it has estrogenic effects and impairs neurological development as well. In a later section, I will discuss how PCB’s inhibit thyroid function in the developing fetus thereby causing neurological