The endocrine system produces long term changes in the body through glands that release hormones. The main glands are the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, thymus gland, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries, and testes. Hormones are chemicals released by glands that travel through the bloodstream and cause actions in distant cells by binding to target cells. Each gland has a specific function, such as the hypothalamus controlling the pituitary gland, the pituitary gland regulating homeostasis and growth, the thyroid gland controlling metabolism, and the ovaries and testes producing sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone.
