Hormones in the Endocrine System

Even though we may not realize their importance, the glands of the endocrine system influence almost every cell that is in our bodies. The Endocrine System is made up of glands. The glands are the essential part of this system because they are the ones who secrete hormones. Hormones are basically chemicals released by a cell in one part of the body to send the message to any other part of our organism. They regulate the body's:

. Mood
. Growth & Development
. Tissue Function
. Sexual Function
. Reproductive Processes

This system is in charge of slow processes like cell growth while the Nervous System is in charge of immediate and faster ones like breathing and moving. Even though they are both separate systems, they often work together to help the body function properly.

Hormones are released into the bloodstream and may affect one or several organs throughout the body. The word hormone means to 'excite' or 'spur on' and that's exactly what they do. They transfer information from one set of cells to another to coordinate the functions of different parts of the body.