Where are hormones made?
Most of our are made by endocrine glands, which then release them into our bloodstream. They then travel through the body to the parts where they’re needed. The main endocrine glands include the
- pancreas,
- gonads (testicles and ovaries),
- thyroid gland,
- parathyroid glands,
- adrenal glands, and the
- pituitary gland.
Substances known as local (or tissue ) are produced in individual cells, not in glands. They work exactly where they’re needed by having an effect on neighboring cells.
Some organs also produce in addition to doing their main job. One example is the kidneys, which make the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) as well as cleansing our blood. EPO stimulates the production of blood cells in our bone marrow. The nervous system can also affect our hormone levels.