Introduction

The endocrine system consists of:

Endocrine glands – adrenals, gonads, hypothalamus, pancreas, parathyroid, pineal, pituitary, thymus, thyroid
Other organs that secrete hormones – heart, kidneys, digestive tract, pancreatic islets, gonads
Hormones

The endocrine system is responsible for directing long term changes in the activities of all other body systems.

This page was updated in November 2005.