Class 8 Science Chapter 10 Reaching the Age of Adolescence
In this article we will talk about hormones in living organisms. Specifically, let’s speak about humans.
Human body is consist of different glands that performs different functions. Gland are divided into types, exocrine glands and endocrine glands. Exocrine glands are those which have separate dedicated duct like salivary glands in mouth, gastric gland in stomach, etc. Endocrine glands are those which do not have separate duct. Moreover secretions from these glands occurs directly in bloodstream. Some endocrine glands are pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal gland, pancreas, ovary in females and testes in males. All these glands secretes important chemicals called hormones.
Role of Sex hormones in human body
During adolescence boys and girls undergo various changes in the body. These changes are controlled by hormones secreted by endocrine glands. Such hormones enters into the bloodstream, flow with blood and reach particular body part or tissue called as target site. Target sit responds to the hormone by undergoing changes. In case of boys, at the beginning of puberty, pituitary gland release hormones that stimulate i.e. causes testes to release hormone called testosterone. Testosterone enters into blood stream and reach the target site like face, chest and similar changes. Incase of girls, at the beginning of puberty, pituitary gland secrete hormones that stimulate ovaries to produce hormones called estrogen. This allows changes to occur in females like breast development, development of mammary glands inside the breast.
Role of other hormones in human body
- Thyroid gland: It secretes hormones called thyroxine. Thyroxine is important to carry out process of metabolism in the body. Production of thyroxine in body depends on iodine. If there is insufficient quantity of iodine, then thyroid gland does not produce produce required quantity of thyroxine. This results in swelling up of neck.
- Pancreatic gland: Pancreatic gland produces hormone called insulin. Moreover, insufficient production of insulin causes diabetes.
- Adrenal gland: this gland produces hormone which maintains salt balance in the blood. It produces hormone adrenaline which helps the body to adjust stress.
- Pituitary gland: it plays an important role in our body. It stimulates production of thyroxine and adrenaline by secreting hormones which stimulates respective glands. It also secrete growth hormones that provides normal body growth.
Role of hormones in animals
Animals pass through different phases in life. The change of larvae to adult is called metamorphosis. In case of frog thyroid gland produces thyroxine and allows these changes. If these is insufficient amount of iodine in water tadpole cannot become an adult frog.
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Keywords: Endocrine gland, Exocrine gland, Pituitary gland, Pancreatic gland, Adrenal gland, Thyroid gland
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