The endocrine system

adrenal glands   

(ad-ree�nal)
two small endocrine glands, one located above each kidney .

calcium   

(kal�see-um)
an element which occurs naturally in all body tissues and fluids, for example in bones, teeth and blood.

ductless gland   

a gland without excretory ducts or channels.

electrolyte balance   

(el-ek'troh-lite)
distribution of acids, bases and salts in tissue cells, fluids and blood plasma which helps maintain normal pH and control the passage of water between cell membranes.

endocrine   

(en�doh-krin)
capable of secreting internally.

endocrine gland   

(en�doh-krin)
an organ which secretes hormones directly into the circulatory system to influence and regulate numerous body processes.

endocrine system   

(en�doh-krin)
all the glands of internal secretion concerned with regulating and influencing organs and processes by the hormones they produce.

exocrine   

(eks�oh-krin)
capable of external secretion.

glucose   

(gloo�kohs)
one form of sugar.

gonads   

(goh�nads)
glands which produce sex hormones and germ cells necessary for reproduction.

hormone   

(hor�mohn)
chemical substance produced and secreted by an endocrine gland.

hypophyseal gland   

(hy-poh-fiz�ee-al)
the pituitary gland located at the base of the brain.

insulin   

(in'syoo-lin)
substance produced by the pancreas; insulin is vital to normal glucose metabolism.

islets of Langerhans   

(eye'lits of lang�er-hans)
group of cells of the pancreas which secrete insulin.

lymph system   

(limf)
a one-way drainage system which assists in distributing nutrients to cells and returning waste fluids from tissues to the bloodstream.

menstruation   

(men-stroo-ay�shun)
cyclic shedding of the lining of the uterus.

metabolism   

(met-ab�oh-lizm)
the physical and chemical processes by which ingested food and fluids are converted to energy or body tissues.

mucosa   

(myoo-koh�sah)
mucous membranes.

oestrogen   

(ees'tro-jen)
the female sex hormone which controls development of the female characteristics and induces changes in the uterus that precede ovulation.

ovarian follicles   

(oh-vair'ee-un fol�lik-uls)
blister-like formations on the ovary which rupture when they ripen and release the egg cell of reproduction.

ovaries   

(oh'ver-eez)
female reproductive organs which release ova (eggs), oestrogen and progesterone.

ovum   

(oh�vum)
egg cell; plural: ova.

pancreas   

(pan�kree-as)
a gland which is both endocrine and exocrine; located behind the stomach, the pancreas produces secretions concerned with digestion.

parathyroid glands   

(par-a-thy�royd)
two pairs of small endocrine glands usually attached to the back of the thyroid gland.

phosphorus   

(fos�fo-rus)
a non-metallic element normally found in the body.

pituitary gland   

(pi-tyoo�i-ta-ree)
the master gland of the body; located at the base of the brain, it controls and influences organs and body processes.

progesterone   

(pro-jes'ter-own)
the hormone which stimulates the growth and secretion of endometrial glands of the uterus before menstruation.

puberty   

(pyoo�ber-tee)
onset of sexual maturity; appearance of adult secondary sex characteristics.

scrotum   

(skroh�tum)
pouch which contains testes and accessory structures.

testes   

(tes�teez)
the two male gonads in the scrotum which produce sex cells called spermatozoa.

thyroid gland   

(thy�royd)
an endocrine gland located in the anterior neck at the trachea ; secretions of the thyroid gland are important in certain metabolic processes.

uterus   

(yoo�ter-uss)
the womb; a muscular organ in which the fertilized ovum is implanted and develops.

viscera   

(viss�er-ah)
internal organs within the chest, abdominal and pelvic cavities.