Endocrine organ functions

ENDOCRINE ORGAN

Hypothalamus

Release a variety of hormones

Controls pituitary hormone levels

Pineal

Releases melatonin

Believed to regulate sleep

Pituitary

Posterior releases oxytocin and ADH

Anterior releases ACTH, TSH, GH, PRL, FSH, LH and MSH

Thyroid

Releases thyroxine, triiodothyronine and calcitonin

Controls cellular metabolism and decreases blood calcium

Controls other endocrine organs

Parathyroid glands

Releases parathyroid hormone

Increases blood calcium

Pancreas

Releases insulin and glucagon

Lowers and raises blood sugar

Adrenal glands

Releases epinephrine, norepinephrine, and adrenocorticosteroids

Fight-or-flight response and many differ effects

Thymus

Releases thymosin

Immune system causing maturation of white blood cells