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The Endocrine System In The Human Body

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The Endocrine System In The Human Body
The Endocrine System
Sarah Horton
Texas Woman’s University

Introduction The endocrine system is one of two systems in the human body that regulates all bodily functions. It is comprised of organs called endocrine glands and include the ovaries, testes, pituitary, hypothalamus, pineal, pancreas, kidneys, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, and adrenal glands. These glands, which are spread throughout the body, are responsible for the extensive and enduring release of certain hormones into the bloodstream for delivery to target cells. Hormones are chemical messengers which have specific functions; only cells with the proper receptor proteins can receive them. Once a hormone attaches to a cell’s receptor protein, the cell responds according
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Children with this disorder will develop noticeably slower than others and have attention and anxiety problems. Although it is mostly men who are affected with this hereditary condition, women can be affected. A narrow face and large ears are physical characteristics of a person with Fragile X syndrome. By testing for mutations in the FMR1 gene, doctors can diagnose a patient with Fragile X syndrome (GHR 2015b). Laron syndrome is another inherited endocrine disorder in which a person is unable to use growth hormone. The child will appear normal at birth, but then grow very slowly and be significantly shorter than people who can process growth hormone. People with this disorder commonly have less muscle and lower blood sugar, as well as smaller genitals and protein deficiencies. They are also more at risk for become obese. Mutations in the GHR gene are responsible for Laron syndrome (GHR 2015c). The endocrine system is a relatively small yet extremely important system of the human body. Without it, humans would not survive. Daily function and long-term development depend upon hormones secreted from glands in the endocrine system. One little mutation can give a person serious problems for his or her entire …show more content…
2015. Cortisol and adrenal function. [Internet]. [cited 2015 Sep 15]. Available from: https://www.adrenalfatigue.org/cortisol-adrenal-function
FHS (Films for the Humanities and Sciences). 2009. The endocrine system [video on Internet]. New York (NY): Chelsea House Publishers; [cited 2015 Sep 15]. Available from: http://ezproxy.twu.edu:2202/PortalPlaylists.aspx?aid=5511&xtid=39512
GHR (Genetics Home Reference). 2015a. What is a gene mutation and how do mutations occur? [Internet]. [cited 2015 Sep 15]. Available from: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/handbook/mutationsanddisorders/genemutation
GHR (Genetics Home Reference). 2015b. Fragile X syndrome. [Internet]. [cited 2015 Sep 15]. Available from: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/fragile-x-syndrome
GHR (Genetics Home Reference). 2015c. Laron syndrome. [Internet]. [cited 2015 Sep 15]. Available from: http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/laron-syndrome
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