Pancreas
Parathyroid
Thyroid
Ovary
Adrenal
Testicle
Pituitary
Pancreas
I’m the all important Insulin secreting organ in your body. I take care of the glucose levels in your blood apart from releasing enzymes which help in digesting your food. So you know whom to blame if you get diabetes. In some conditions, I secrete a lot of Insulin and you end up having repeated episodes of low blood sugars. Learn more about diabetes in the diabetes corner.
Thyroid
You may have frequently heard of me but must be wondering what it is that I do. I produce the thyroid hormones that regulate your body’s metabolism. When I don’t produce sufficient hormones you end up feeling lethargic and your body swells up. Sometimes I release lot of hormones and make you lose weight drastically. Don’t get too excited by that as that weight loss comes with cardiac and neurological complications such as palpitations and anxiety. And ya… I do enlarge now and then making you look awkward with that neck lump.
Adrenal gland
We are the most fascinating glands of the lot. We produce various hormones which deal with aspects such as blood pressure control, sexual development, metabolic functioning and general well being. And ya, you must be familiar with our prize creation ‘Adrenaline’. Think of us if you ended up getting hypertension at a young age, are fainting frequently, craving too much salt or lets just say – you’re not feeling all that good. We also kind of mess up with your genitals now and then. Lastly we are responsible for the disease called as ‘Cushing’s syndrome’
Pituitary gland
Call me ‘THE BOSS’ or as the Endocrinologist would have it – ‘The Master Gland’. I produce various hormones which control the other endocrine glands of the body. I regulate aspects such as growth and sexual development, sexual and reproductive health, thyroid and adrenal functioning, breast development and milk secretion. Sometimes I may bulge and end up disturbing your vision with severe headaches.
Parathyroids
You may be knowing that there are around 206 bones in your body but do you know they are controlled by the hormone I secrete ? Situated behind your thyroid, I regulate your blood calcium and phosphorous levels along with my friend vitamin D. While a decrease in phosphorous and calcium can cause deformities in your bones, severe disturbances can be fatal.
Ovary
Hello ladies!! I produce oestrogen which is responsible for your sexual development during puberty and reproductive functions later on. Oestrogen is also essential for your bone health. I also hold your eggs and release them by a process known as ovulation thus enabling you to procreate. Disorders of ovulation such as PCOD/PCOS are common causes of infertility. Lastly I sometimes produce excess of male hormone testosterone leading to increased facial hair and acne.
Testicle
I’m the quintessential testosterone producing gland in men. I enlarge in size during puberty. Testosterone is essential for development of secondary sexual characteristics in men such as facial hair, pubic hair, increase in the size of penis, masculinisation of voice, decrease in chubby fat and increase in musculature. I’m also the sperm producing factory. Many disorders of the testis end up with subnormal testosterone and sperm levels leading to erectile dysfunction and infertility.