Name: __________________________________________________________________________________ Date: _________________________
Your Endocrine System
So, what's the endocrine system?
It's a little-known system made up of a whole collection of glands and it does very BIG things. A
gland is a type of organ that helps process hormones. The endocrine system regulates, coordinates,
and controls an extraordinary number of your body's functions.
HOW? While your nervous system uses electricity to orchestrate all sorts of things in your body,
your endocrine system does even more through the wonder of chemicals.
Where do these chemicals come from?
They come from glands and a few organs (like the stomach, pancreas, kidneys, etc.) that
produce them and ooze them. While the chemicals that your organs manufacture are used close to
home, endocrine glands throughout your body make chemicals called hormones that travel much further.
Endocrine glands spew their hormones directly into your bloodstream! You're not likely to be
aware that all these chemicals are traveling to all parts of your body. But they're acting as chemical
messengers!
What are hormones?
"Hormone" comes from the Greek word hormon which means to "excite" or "spur on", and that's
exactly what hormones do. They cause other things to start happening. It's as if they were keys
which not only unlock the doors to other actions, but also regulate those actions that they've initiated.
You've got over 30 of these amazing hormones busily taking care of such things as: when you feel
hungry or full; how you sleep; your body temperature; how you break down and utilize the food you eat
and whether you are fat or thin; when you start puberty and how long it takes; how you handle stress;
how much adrenaline you have in an emergency situation...even how and when you grow. Phew!
Now you might say that you thought it was genes that determined things like how tall you're going to
eventually grow. But when, and if, you grow as tall as the instructions from your genes would suggest
depends on hormones - - in this case growth hormones.
What is puberty?
The time when your body begins its’ final journey to become adult is also run by these hormones. It's
called puberty and it involves all sorts of big and small changes to your body -- and your brain!
During puberty, your body's shape begins to change -- girls develop breasts and hips; boys, taller and
broader bodies and more muscles. Hair begins to develop in varying degrees on boys and girls: pubic
hair, underarm hair, leg hair, and facial. By the time you've finished puberty, you will have reached your
adult size. You may also find yourself more interested in the opposite sex, and experiencing feelings
and emotions that are quite new to you. And, if you are a boy, you will have acquired the ability to
father a baby; if you are a girl, you will have developed the ability to have a baby.
Because these changes, most especially the last, are SO big and SO important, it would take a whole
series of my power points to explore the consequences of them. Therefore, we are not going to attempt
to discuss them in detail right now. We will just say, that are you are all on your way to becoming young
men and women and with these changes come big responsibilities.
Will I feel different?
Puberty is a time in which you may find yourself feeling confused. One minute you may find yourself
giggling, then next find yourself feeling sad or cranky. Just understand that you haven't changed into a
different person & your body is just adjusting to all these molecules of hormones racing around. And,
don't worry! By the end of puberty, your body will have adjusted the hormone levels so that you will
feel on a much more even keel.
PS You may find it surprisingly helpful to talk with your parents, teachers or mentors about all of this.
Believe it or not, the adults around you have all experienced this confusing time, too!
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. What is a gland? __________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. What does your endocrine system do? ________________________________________________________________________
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3. What does hormone mean? _________________________________________________________________________________
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4. What do you glands spew directly into your bloodstream?_________________________________________________________
5. What body system is your bloodstream a part of? _______________________________________________________________
6. What do hormones take care of for you? (Mention at least 4 things) ________________________________________________
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7. What could happen if you didn’t have hormones? (3 sentences) ___________________________________________________
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8. What do growth hormones determine? _______________________________________________________________________
9. Which body system is responsible for puberty? _________________________________________________________________
10. What is puberty? ________________________________________________________________________________________
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EXIT TICKET
3…2….1 time!
Write 3 things you learned!
1. ______________________________________________________________________________
2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. _______________________________________________________________________________
2 things you found interesting!
1.____________________________________________________________________________________
2.____________________________________________________________________________________
And, 1 question you have!
1. __________________________________________________________________________________
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