Patient Education - Endocrine Encyclopedia
Endocrine Surgery Encyclopedia
The Endocrine Surgery Encyclopedia is a compilation of illustrated articles on endocrine diseases, conditions, tests, and studies. Many basic topics and definitions are covered. Most of the material is from A.D.A.M. Health Illustrated Encyclopedia, an evidence-based, independently reviewed on-line resource.
Definition:
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: 5/14/2004 12:00:00 AM
Reviewed By: Christian Stone, M.D., Division of Gastroenterology, Washington University in
St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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