Hormones and Your Endocrine System
The endocrine system makes hormones. These are chemicals that control and coordinate many things in your body. This includes your:
- Metabolism
- Energy level
- Reproduction
- Growth and development
- Response to injury, stress, and environmental factors
Below is a list of hormones and what they do in your body:
|
Hormone name |
Where the hormone is made |
What the hormone does |
| Aldosterone |
Adrenal glands |
Controls salt, water balance, and blood pressure |
| Cortisol (corticosteroid) |
Adrenal glands |
Controls key functions in the body. Acts as an anti-inflammatory. Controls blood sugar levels, blood pressure, and muscle strength. Controls salt and water balance. Responsible for the fight or flight response to emergency situations. |
| Antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) |
Pituitary gland |
Affects water retention in kidneys and sodium balance. Controls blood pressure. |
| Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) |
Pituitary gland |
Controls the making and release of cortisol and other steroids in the adrenal glands. |
| Growth hormone (GH) |
Pituitary gland |
Affects growth and development. Promotes the making of protein. Affects where fat is on the body. |
| Luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) |
Pituitary gland |
Controls the making of sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) and the making of eggs and spermatozoids |
| Oxytocin |
Pituitary gland |
Triggers contraction of the uterus and milk release in breasts during breastfeeding. May play a role in trust and bonding, especially between parents and children. |
| Prolactin |
Pituitary gland |
Starts and keeps up the making of milk in breasts. Affects sex hormone levels. |
| Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) |
Pituitary gland |
Triggers the making and release of thyroid hormones |
| Renin |
Kidneys |
Controls blood pressure |
| Glucagon |
Pancreas |
Raises blood sugar levels |
| Insulin |
Pancreas |
Lowers blood sugar levels. Triggers the metabolism of glucose, protein, and fat. |
| Estrogen |
Ovaries |
Affects growth and function of uterus and breasts. Helps protect bone health. |
| Progesterone |
Ovaries |
Grows the lining of the uterus for fertilization. Prepares the breasts for making milk. |
| Parathyroid hormone (PTH) |
Parathyroid glands |
Plays the most important role in controlling blood calcium levels |
| Thyroid hormone |
Thyroid gland |
Controls metabolism. Affects growth, maturation, and nervous system activity. |
|
Epinephrine |
Adrenal glands |
Increases heart rate, oxygen intake, and blood flow |
|
Norepinephrine |
Adrenal glands and sympathetic and parasympathetic systems |
Maintains blood pressure |
|
Testosterone |
Testes (testicles) |
Controls sexual growth and function. Helps protect bone health. |
|
Melatonin |
Pineal gland |
Helps with sleep |
|
Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) |
Hypothalamus |
Controls growth hormone release in the pituitary gland |
|
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) |
Hypothalamus |
Controls thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) release in the pituitary gland |
|
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) |
Hypothalamus |
Controls the making of LH/FSH in the pituitary gland |
|
Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) |
Hypothalamus |
Controls adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) release in the pituitary gland |