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Endocrine Glands

Endocrine glands are made of groups of cells specialised to secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the blood.The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar concentrations.The adrenal gland produces adrenaline which raises blood sugar level and increases the heart rate and breathing rate.The pituitary gland produces growth hormone and gonadotrophin to control the development of the ovaries and testes. It also releases ADH, which is made in the hypothalamus.

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Specification: OCR Biology A (H420), A-level, 5.1.4 Hormonal communication. Topic: Hormonal Communication.

Key terms in this lesson

Hormone
A chemical messenger, secreted directly into the blood by an endocrine gland, that travels to target cells and alters their activity.
Insulin
A hormone secreted by beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in response to high blood glucose concentration that increases the uptake of glucose by cells.
Glucagon
A hormone secreted by alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans in response to low blood glucose concentration that raises blood glucose concentration.
ADH
A hormone released by the posterior pituitary that increases the permeability of the collecting duct to water by inserting aquaporins, so more water is reabsorbed.

More in Hormonal Communication

All 19 lessons in Hormonal Communication · All OCR A-level Biology topics