Glands and hormones of the human endocrine system

gland or tissue principal hormone function

testis testosterone stimulates development of male sex organs and secondary sex characteristics, including facial hair growth and increased muscle mass

ovary estrogens (estrogen) (estradiol, estrone, estriol) stimulate development of female sex organs and secondary sex characteristics, maturation of ovarian follicles, formation and maintenance of bone tissue, and contraction of the uterine muscles

inhibin (folliculostin) inhibits secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone from the pituitary gland

progesterone stimulates secretion of substances from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) in preparation for egg implantation in the uterine wall

relaxin induces relaxation of pubic ligaments during childbirth to facilitate infant delivery

thyroid gland thyroxine stimulates cellular metabolism, lipid production, carbohydrate utilization, and central and autonomic nervous system activation

triiodothyronine stimulates cellular metabolism, lipid production, carbohydrate utilization, and central and autonomic nervous system activation

adrenal gland, medulla epinephrine (epinephrine and norepinephrine) (adrenaline) stimulates "fight or flight" response, increases heart rate, dilates blood vessels in skeletal muscles and liver, increases oxygen delivery to muscle and brain tissues, increases blood glucose concentrations, and suppresses digestion

norepinephrine (epinephrine and norepinephrine) (noradrenaline) stimulates "fight or flight" response, increases heart rate, constricts blood vessels, increases blood glucose concentrations, and suppresses digestion

adrenal gland, cortex cortisol activates physiological stress responses to maintain blood glucose concentrations, augments constriction of blood vessels to maintain blood pressure, and stimulates anti-inflammatory pathways

aldosterone regulates balance of salt and water in the body

androgens (androgen) contribute to growth and development of the male reproductive system and serve as precursors to testosterone and estrogen

pituitary gland, anterior lobe corticotropin (adrenocorticotropin, ACTH) stimulates growth and secretion of cells of the adrenal cortex; increases skin pigmentation

growth hormone (GH; somatotropin) stimulates growth of essentially all tissues in the body

thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone) stimulates secretion of thyroid hormone and growth of thyroid cells

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates maturation of egg follicles in females and development of spermatozoa in males

luteinizing hormone (LH; interstitial cell stimulating hormone, ICSH) stimulates rupture of mature egg follicles and production of progesterone and androgens in females and secretion of androgens in males

prolactin (PRL; luteotropic hormone, LTH; lactogenic hormone; mammotropin) stimulates and maintains lactation in breast-feeding mothers

pituitary gland, posterior lobe oxytocin stimulates milk ejection during breast-feeding and uterine muscle contraction during childbirth

vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone, ADH) regulates fluid volume by increasing or decreasing fluid excretion in response to changes in blood pressure

pituitary gland, intermediate lobe melanocyte-stimulating hormones (MSH)* stimulate melanin synthesis in skin cells to increase skin pigmentation; may also suppress appetite

hypothalamus corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) stimulates synthesis and secretion of corticotropin from the anterior pituitary gland

growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulates synthesis and secretion of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland

thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulates and regulates secretion of thyrotropin from the anterior pituitary gland and may modulate neuronal activity in the brain and spinal cord

gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulates synthesis and secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the anterior pituitary gland

prolactin-inhibiting factor (PIF; dopamine) inhibits secretion of prolactin from the anterior pituitary gland

somatostatin inhibits secretion of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland, inhibits secretion of insulin and glucagon in the pancreas, and inhibits secretion of gastrointestinal hormones and secretion of acid in the stomach

gastrointestinal neuropeptides hormones secreted from the stomach and pancreas that stimulate hypothalamic secretion of neuropeptides, such as neuropeptide Y, gastrin-releasing peptide, and somatostatin, that regulate appetite, fat storage, and metabolism

pancreatic islets of Langerhans (Langerhans, islets of) glucagon maintains blood glucose concentrations by stimulating release of glucose from the liver and production of glucose from amino acids and glycerol

insulin stimulates glucose uptake and storage in adipose, muscle, and liver tissues

somatostatin inhibits glucagon and insulin secretion from the pancreas and inhibits secretion of gastrointestinal hormones and secretion of acid in the stomach

pancreatic polypeptide inhibits contraction of the gallbladder and secretion of exocrine substances from the pancreas

parathyroid gland parathyroid hormone (parathormone) increases serum calcium concentrations by stimulating release of calcium from bone tissue, reabsorption of calcium in the kidneys, and production of vitamin D in the kidneys; inhibits reabsorption of phosphate in the kidneys

calcitonin decreases serum calcium concentrations by promoting uptake of calcium into bone tissue and excretion of calcium in the urine

skin, liver, kidneys (kidney) calciferols (vitamin D) (vitamin D) maintain serum calcium concentrations by increasing absorption of calcium and phosphate in the intestines and reabsorption of calcium and phosphate in the kidneys; mobilizes calcium from bone in response to parathyroid hormone activity

stomach gastrin stimulates secretion of acid and pepsin in the stomach and contraction of the pyloric region of the stomach near the small intestine to increase motility during digestion

duodenum cholecystokinin (cholecystokinin/pancreozymin) (CCK; pancreozymin) stimulates release of bile from the gallbladder into the intestine and stimulates secretion of pancreatic juices into the intestine; may induce satiety

secretin stimulates secretion of water and bicarbonate from the pancreas into the duodenum; inhibits secretion of gastrin in the stomach, delaying gastric emptying

gastric-inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) inhibits secretion of acid into the stomach; stimulates secretion of insulin from the pancreas

vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) stimulates dilation of blood vessels and secretion of water and electrolytes from the intestine; modulates immune functions

pineal gland melatonin regulates circadian rhythm (primarily in response to light and dark cycles) and release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone from the hypothalamus and gonadotropins from the pituitary gland

kidneys (kidney) renin regulates blood pressure and blood flow by catalyzing conversion of angiotensinogen to angiotensin I in the kidneys

multiple tissues insulin-like growth factors (somatomedins) stimulate growth by mediating secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland

prostaglandins (prostaglandin) regulate many physiological processes, including dilation and constriction of blood vessels, aggregation of platelets, and inflammation

*Intermediate lobe hormones referred to collectively as melanotropin or intermedin.