New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Higher

The human endocrine system

I can explain how the human endocrine system uses glands and hormones to control changes in the body.

New
New
Year 10
Edexcel
Higher

The human endocrine system

I can explain how the human endocrine system uses glands and hormones to control changes in the body.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The human body has an endocrine system that uses hormones to control changes in the body.
  2. Hormones are chemicals secreted by glands, transported in blood plasma and detected by receptors on cells and tissues.
  3. Changes in the body can be triggered by an increase in hormones (e.g. puberty) and a decrease in them (e.g. menopause).
  4. Changes in the body are detected by receptors; the nervous system sends nerve impulses to glands to secrete hormones.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that all hormones in the body form part of the reproductive system and its regulation.

The slide deck gives specific examples of hormones that are not part of the reproductive system; this includes the example of antagonistic hormones.

Keywords

  • Endocrine system - A system that regulates body conditions; glands secrete hormones into the blood that target specific organs.

  • Hormone - A chemical substance produced by a gland that travels in the bloodstream to a specific organ.

  • Gland - An organ or tissues that produces and secretes substances, such as hormones.

  • Receptor - Specialised cells that detect changes in the environment (stimuli) and respond by stimulating electrical impulses.

This is a good opportunity to recall students on their understanding of the nervous system and how the nervous and endocrine system work together, but also their differences.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which part of the blood transports dissolved substances?
white blood cells
Correct answer: plasma
platelets
red blood cells
Q2.
Match the systems to their correct description.
Correct Answer:nervous system,made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves

made up of the brain, spinal cord and nerves

Correct Answer:endocrine system,made up of glands and organs that secrete hormones

made up of glands and organs that secrete hormones

Q3.
Which of the following is a female reproductive organ?
pancreas
Correct answer: ovaries
testes
kidney
Q4.
Which hormone is involved in the fight or flight response and is triggered in stressful situations?
progesterone
testosterone
insulin
Correct answer: adrenaline
Q5.
The changes that happen during puberty are because of chemical messengers called hormones. Which glands release the sex hormones?
Correct answer: ovaries
pancreas
breasts
Correct answer: testes
liver
Q6.
What is the name of the sugar that is transported in the blood plasma and delivered to cells as a reactant for respiration?
Correct answer: glucose
starch
carbon dioxide
chlorophyll

6 Questions

Q1.
Match each letter to the endocrine gland it is labelling.
An image in a quiz
Correct Answer:A,pituitary gland

pituitary gland

Correct Answer:B,thyroid gland

thyroid gland

Correct Answer:C,adrenal gland

adrenal gland

Correct Answer:D,pancreas

pancreas

Correct Answer:E,ovary

ovary

Correct Answer:F,testes

testes

Q2.
A is a chemical messenger that is secreted by glands into the bloodstream to target certain organs.
Correct Answer: hormone, hormones
Q3.
Put these stages in order to show how the endocrine system brings about a change in the body.
1 - Receptor cells detect a change in the environment (stimuli).
2 - Electrical impulses are sent to the brain.
3 - The brain sends electrical impulses to specific glands.
4 - Glands are triggered to secrete hormones.
Q4.
Which statements are true for the endocrine system?
Correct answer: The pituitary gland is known as the master gland.
Hormones can act on any gland in the body.
Correct answer: Hormones travel in the blood plasma.
All organs are glands.
Q5.
Which statements are true about the endocrine system?
Correct answer: It involves hormones being secreted by glands.
It only involves neurones transmitting electrical impulses.
It is quick to act with a short response time.
Correct answer: It is slower to act with a longer lasting response.
Q6.
Which of the following changes in the body can be triggered by changes in hormone levels?
Correct answer: puberty
infancy
Correct answer: menopause
reflexes
diffusion