Exploring the study of hormones, glands, and their effects. Vocabulary in this post endocrinology noun /ˌɛn.də.krɪˈnɑ.lə.dʒi/ The study of the endocrine glands of the human body, the hormones produced by them, and their related disorders Examples: "My doctor referred me to endocrinology because she suspects I might have a thyroid problem. " hormone noun /ˈhɔːməʊn/ /ˈhɔːɹmoʊn/ Any substance produced by one tissue and conveyed by the bloodstream to another to effect physiological activity. Examples: "The hormone adrenaline was released into her bloodstream, causing her heart to race as she prepared for the big presentation. " gland noun /ɡlænd/ An organ that synthesizes a substance, such as hormones or breast milk, and releases it, often into the bloodstream (endocrine gland) or into cavities inside the body or its outer surface (exocrine gland). Examples: "The thyroid gland in your neck produces hormones that regulate your metabolism. " metabolism noun /mɪˈtab.əl.ɪz.əm/ /məˈtæ.bəlˌɪz.əm/ The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life. Examples: "My grandmother's slow metabolism means she needs to eat smaller portions to maintain a healthy weight. " thyroid noun /ˈθaɪ̯ɹɔɪ̯d/ The thyroid gland. Examples: "The doctor examined her thyroid to check for any problems. " pituitary noun /pɪˈtjuːɪt(ə)ɹi/ /pɪˈtuːɪˌtɛɹi/ The pituitary gland. Examples: "The doctor ordered tests to check if Sarah's slow growth was related to a problem with her pituitary gland. " adrenal noun /æˈdɹiːnəl/ An adrenal gland. Examples: "His adrenal gland was producing too much cortisol, causing him to feel anxious. " pancreas noun /ˈpæŋkɹɪəs/ A gland near the stomach which secretes a fluid into the duodenum to help with food digestion. The fluid contains protease, carbohydrase and lipase, which breaks down larger molecules into smaller pieces. The pancreas also produces the hormones insulin and glucagon which regulate blood sugar. These hormones are released into the cardiovascular system. Examples: "My uncle's doctor said his pancreas was not functioning properly, so he needed to adjust his diet to help it produce the necessary enzymes for digestion. " insulin noun /ˈɪnsjʊlin/ /ˈɪnsəlɪn/ A polypeptide hormone that regulates carbohydrate metabolism. Examples: "My grandfather takes insulin to help control his blood sugar levels. " secretion noun /sɪˈkriːʃən/ /siˈkriːʃən/ The act of secreting a substance, especially from a gland Examples: "The doctor checked my throat for any unusual secretion of mucus. " homeostasis noun /ˌhɒm.i.ə(ʊ)ˈsteɪ.sɪs/ /ˌhoʊ.mi.oʊˈsteɪ.sɪs/ The ability of a system or living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a state of dynamic constancy; such as the ability of warm-blooded animals to maintain a stable temperature. Examples: "Even when it's hot outside, our bodies use homeostasis to keep our internal temperature around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. "
