What is Endocrine system?
{{redlinks|date=May 2021}} The '''endocrine system''' includes those [[Organ (anatomy)|organs]] of the body which produce [[hormone]]s. It helps to regulate [[metabolism]], [[growth]] and [[development]], [[Tissue (biological)|tissue]] function, and plays a part also in [[mood]].<ref>{{cite book| last = Collier Judith | display-authors = etal| title = Oxford Handbook of Clinical Specialties 7th edn.| url = https://archive.org/details/oxfordhandbookof0000coll_x1r6 | publisher = Oxford University Press| date = 2006 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/oxfordhandbookof0000coll_x1r6/page/350 350] -351| isbn = 0-19-853085-4 }}</ref> The field of [[medicine]] that deals with disorders of [[endocrine gland]]s is [[endocrinology]]. In [[physiology]], the endocrine system is a system of [[gland]]s, each of which secretes a type of hormone directly into the bloodstream to regulate the body. The endocrine system is in contrast to the [[exocrine gland|exocrine system]], which secretes its chemicals using [[wikt:duct|ducts]].<ref>It derives from the Greek words ''endo'' meaning inside, within, and ''crinis'' for secrete.</ref> The endocrine system is an information [[signal]] system like the nervous system, yet its effects and mechanism are different. The endocrine system's effects are slow to start, and long-lasting in their response. The nervous system sends information quickly, and responses are generally short lived. Hormones are complex chemicals released from endocrine tissue into the [[bloodstream]] where they travel to target tissues and [[wikt:trigger|trigger]] a [[wikt:response|response]]. Features of endocrine glands are, in general, they have no ducts, they have a good blood supply, and usually they have vacuoles or granules inside their [[cell]]s, storing their hormones. [[Image:Illu endocrine system.png|right|thumb|227px|Major [[endocrine gland]]s. ([[Male]] left, [[female]] on the right.) '''1.''' [[Pineal gland]] '''2.''' [[Pituitary gland]] '''3.''' [[Thyroid gland]] '''4.''' [[Thymus]] '''5.''' [[Adre