

This helps control sleep patterns.Endocrine System > Hypothalamus and Pituitary Overview of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Hormones The pineal gland is a very small gland deep in the brain. FSH and LH levels are in turn controlled by the hypothalamus. These control oestrogen and progesterone levels in women and testosterone levels in men. It produces 2 hormones called follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH). The pituitary gland also controls the egg production in women and sperm production in men. breast milk production after birth by producing prolactin that makes the breasts produce milk.steroid levels, by producing adrenocorticotropic hormone that tells the adrenal glands to make steroids.the speed of body processes (metabolism), by producing thyroid stimulating hormones (TSH).Many of the pituitary gland hormones signal to other parts of the hormone system to make or stop making other hormones.

The pituitary makes a number of hormones and controls many different body functions. This is a small gland at the base of the brain. This is how the body controls hormone levels. Doctors call this a negative feedback mechanism. The thyroid gland then stops making thyroid hormones.

When the thyroid hormones are at the right level the hypothalamus signals to the pituitary gland to stop producing TSH. TSH then stimulates the thyroid to produce thyroid hormones. The hypothalamus signals to the pituitary gland to produce thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). It only does this when the hypothalamus detects that the level of thyroid hormones is low. The pituitary then produces hormones that tell other glands to produce the hormone that the body needs.įor example, the thyroid gland makes thyroid hormones. When the level of a hormone drops the hypothalamus signals to the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus reacts to changes in the amount of hormones in the body. It works with the pituitary gland to control the activity of the other glands. The hypothalamus is part of the brain and not actually part of the endocrine system. The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland in the brain control the whole hormone system including the levels of hormones in the body. The type of response depends on the type of hormone. The connection triggers a response in the cell. The hormones then travel from the gland to its target cells and connect to a part of the cell called a receptor. The glands produce hormones and release them into the bloodstream. They control how we respond to changes in the environment around us as well as: They are carried around our body in our bloodstream and act as messengers between one part of our body and another.Įach hormone has a different function. Hormones are natural substances made by the glands and organs of the hormone system. Each gland makes a different hormone and most make more than one.
