Endocrine glands release hormones (chemical messengers) into the
bloodstream to be transported to various organs and tissues
throughout the body. For instance, the pancreas secretes
insulin, which allows the body to regulate levels of sugar in
the blood. The thyroid gets instructions from the pituitary to
secrete hormones which determine the pace of chemical activity
in the body (the more hormone in the bloodstream, the faster the
chemical activity; the less hormone, the slower the activity).
|Review Date: 1/21/2010| Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD,
Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department
of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; and
George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser
Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, CA. Also reviewed by
David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. The
information provided herein should not be used during any
medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any
medical condition. A licensed