How Hormones Move Through Your Body

Endocrine System Disorders

How Hormones Travel Through Your Body

The endocrine glands produce and store hormones for release as needed by the body. When the body needs hormones, hormones travel where needed through the blood. The target of a specific hormone may be an organ, tissues, or cells.

Endocrine System Disorders

Hormones can’t do their jobs unless our endocrine glands, circulatory system, and the receptors on the target cells work in harmony. When something happens to disrupt the normal process of the endocrine system, too much or not enough hormone may reach the receptors on the target cell. Too much or too little hormones can cause several diseases and conditions including:

• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Polycystic ovary syndrome or PCOS
• Adrenal insufficiency
• Types 1 and 2 diabetes
• Growth hormone problems
• Thyroid diseases
• Precocious puberty

_{Sources:
Endocrine System; Teens Health, Nemours Foundation; http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/body_basics/endocrine.html; accessed 08/29/07.
Endo 101: The Endocrine System; The Hormone Foundation; Endocrine Glands; The Hormone Foundation; http://www.hormone.org/Endo101/page2.cfm; accessed 03/05/08.}