What is iron? What are its functions?

In the human body there is a whole systemGlands, whose work is responsible for ensuring the normal functioning of all internal organs. In medicine, this term is called "endocrine system." We often hear about it, but most of us have practically no idea about the vital properties of endocrine glands.

Endocrine cells are present throughout the body.They are regulators of hormone production. A certain part of the cells of the endocrine system participates in the formation of the glandular apparatus. The internal secretion of the glands ensures the production and delivery of hormones directly to the cells of the organs and the circulatory system.

Types of glands

The human body is unique.Each organ performs a certain function: the stomach digests food, the lungs enrich the body with oxygen, etc. What is iron, many people can not explain. It is an organ that produces active substances, different in chemical composition.

In the human body, there are two glandular systems:

• Endocrine consists of endocrine glands.
• Exocrine - from the external secretion glands.

Functions

The endocrine system is the most complex self-regulating mechanism. In what its feature and what functions it performs, let's try to figure it out.

• Internal secretion makes the regulation of the work of organs and systems.
• Emotional state depends on the endocrine system.
• Reproductive functions are directly dependent on hormonal levels.
• The endocrine glands are actively involved in various reactions, synthesizing certain substances.
• The development and growth of a person depends on the hormonal state.
• Thanks to the endocrine system, the stability of vital processes is ensured, and immunity is produced. The person becomes resistant to changes in the external environment.

In various diseases, the functions of the glands may need to be regulated, so doctors use drugs that help restore hormonal levels as a therapy.

The endocrine system is quite fragile, and very often its work can be disrupted by certain factors:

• Nervous loads and stresses.
• High radiation background.
• Strict diet.
• Lack of iodine in the body.
• Exposure to chemicals.

What are hormones?

What is iron, we have already figured out.Now let's try to find out the features of the product it produces. Highly active substances produced by the glands are called hormones. They affect certain organs and systems of the body. But their influence is specific, since it is aimed at a specific sphere of metabolic processes.

There are three groups of hormones that differ from each other in chemical structure:

• Steroids are fatty substances. Such hormones are produced by the adrenal cortex and gonads.
• Peptides and proteins. These types of hormones include insulin and substances produced by the pituitary gland.
• Amino acids. This group includes adrenaline and thyroxin.

Hormones can affect the intensity of metabolic processes. They are responsible for the onset of puberty, tissue differentiation and growth.

The role of the pituitary gland in the endocrine system

What is the pituitary gland? What functions does it perform?Where is this body located? In the endocrine system, one of the most vital glands is the pituitary gland. This organ is a brain appendage. It is located at the base of the brain (in its middle part). The pituitary gland is connected to the hypothalamus with a special stem. The mass of the gland is very small - 0.5 g.

The pituitary gland produces and synthesizes hormones such as:

• Gonadotropin affects the sex glands and stimulates the production of hormones in them.
• Corticotropin is responsible for the production of hormones by the adrenal cortex.
• Growth hormone - growth hormone.
• Thyrotropin acts as a regulator in the work of the thyroid gland.
• Prolactin regulates lactation and fertility in women.
• Oxytocin has a stimulating effect on the contraction of smooth muscles of organs such as the intestines, gall bladder, uterus.
• Vasopressin reduces the excretion of urine, is responsible for vasoconstriction.

What is the endocrine gland, we figured out. Now it is worth knowing what other organs of the endocrine system are in the human body.

Other glands

The thyroid gland is an organ whose massapproximately from 16 to 23 g. It produces hormones containing iodine: thyroxin, calcitonin, triiodothyronine. When violations in the body may be a disease of myxedema, which manifests itself in the form of edema of the mucous membrane. A sick person has the following symptoms:

• deterioration of metabolic processes;
• lowering the temperature;
• slow pulse;
• weight gain;
• lethargy;
• swelling and dryness of the skin.

This disease occurs when iodine deficiency or a decrease in the activity of the gland itself.

Disorders in the work of the thyroid gland in children provoke the development of such a disease as cretinism. It causes dementia and delay in physical development.

Consider what hormones the other endocrine glands produce:

• Pancreas is a mixed type, sohow it performs the out-of-secret function (secretion of pancreatic juice for the breakdown of nutrients) and intra-secret (produces such hormones as insulin, glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, intestinal vasoactive polypeptide).
• Adrenal glands - an organ that secretes hormonesmedullary and cortical layer of the adrenal glands: dopamine, adrenaline, aldosterone, cortisol, etc. Disorders in the gland can trigger the development of Addison's (bronze) disease.

• The thymus gland produces thymosin, a hormone responsible for growth processes and immunity. Participates in the formation of lymphocytes.
• Parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone, which is involved in the synthesis of phosphorus and calcium.
• The sex glands are of mixed type.The intrasecretory function is the production of sex hormones: estrogen, androgen and progesterone. Excretory function - the formation and secretion of female and male germ cells (sperm and egg).

In the article we answered the question of what is iron, considered its role in the human body.