Word parts
What it means
The endocrine system is the set of glands that make hormones and send them through the bloodstream to act on organs far away. It includes the pituitary, thyroid glandTHY-royd GLANDA butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that makes hormones that control the body's metabolism.thyr/o thyroid-oid resemblingFull entry , parathyroids, adrenal glanduh-DREE-nul GLANDOne of two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys and make hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone and epinephrine.ad- toward, nearren/o kidney-al relating toFull entry , pancreasPAN-kree-usA long, flat gland behind the stomach that makes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon.pan- allcreas fleshFull entry , ovaries and testes, with the hypothalamushy-poh-THAL-uh-musA small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.hypo- belowthalamus inner chamber (a part of the brain)Full entry in control. Exocrine glands, by contrast, release their products through ducts, such as sweat or digestive juices.
At a glance
| Spanish | endocrino |
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Related terms
hypothalamus
A small area at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep and many hormones.
pancreas
A long, flat gland behind the stomach that makes digestive enzymes and the hormones insulin and glucagon.
aden/o
A word root that means gland.
adrenal gland
One of two small glands that sit on top of the kidneys and make hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone and epinephrine.
growth hormone
A hormone from the pituitary gland that drives growth in children and helps control body build and metabolism in adults.
thyroid gland
A butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that makes hormones that control the body's metabolism.