Ever dozed through chemistry class and wondered what chemistry
had to do with you? A lot! Your body produces its own chemicals
and uses them to control certain functions, and the main system
that coordinates these chemicals is called the endocrine system.
What Is the Endocrine System? Although we rarely think about the
endocrine system, it influences almost every cell, organ, and
function of our bodies. The endocrine system is instrumental in
regulating mood, growth and development, tissue function,
metabolism, and sexual function and reproductive processes. In
general, the endocrine system is in charge of body processes
that happen slowly, such as cell growth. Faster processes like
breathing and body movement are controlled by the nervous
system. But even though the nervous system and endocrine system
are separate systems, they often work together to help the body
function properly. The foundations of the endocrine system are
the hormones and glands. As the body's chemical messengers,
hormones transfer infor