This table lists the major endocrine glands found in women and the hormones they release, as well as many of the diffuse endocrine organs and tissues in your body and their associated hormones. This list is not comprehensive; several of the hormones listed here are only newly described, and so much about hormonal function lies waiting to be discovered. But because Mother Nature is a great conservationist, we can be certain that all our hormones play important roles.
Major female endocrine glands and their hormones
(a partial listing)
|
| Gland/organ |
Hormone(s) released |
Hypothalamus |
• thyrotropin releasing hormone
• release inhibiting hormones |
Pituitary |
• thyrotropin/thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
• adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
• luteinizing hormone (LH)
• follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
• growth hormone (GH)
• prolactin
• melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)
• oxytocin
• antidiuretic hormone (ADH, or vasopressin) |
Pineal |
• melatonin |
Thyroid and parathyroid |
• thyroxine (T4)
• triiodothyronine (T3)
• calcitonin (CT)
• parathyroid hormone (PH) |
Thymus |
• thymosin
• thymopoietin
• serum thymic factor |
Adrenals |
• epinephrine
• norepinephrine
• testosterone
• estrogen
• dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
• aldosterone
• cortisol
• corticosterone |
Pancreas (islets of Langerhans) |
• insulin
• glucagon
• somatostatin (also secreted elsewhere) |
Ovaries |
• estrone
• estradiol
• estriol
• progesterone
• testosterone |
| Placenta |
• human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) |
| Breasts |
• estrogen |
| |
The diffuse endocrine system
(other organs and tissues that secrete hormones)
|
| Tissue/organ |
Hormone(s) released |
Adipose tissue (fat)
(Note that with development of truncal obesity, adipose tissue begins to function as a major player in the endocrine system.) |
• leptin
• adiponectin
• resistin
• plasminogen activating inhibitor–1 (PAI–1)
• estrogen
• and others |
| Skin |
• vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) |
| Stomach and small intestine |
• gastrin
• secretin
• cholecystokinin
• ghrelin
• motilin |
| Liver |
• 25–hydroxycholecalciferol |
| Kidneys |
• erythropoietin (EPO)
• 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol
• rennin |
| Heart |
• atrial naturetic hormone |
| |
You will find that many of the hormones, organs, and tissues listed above are discussed in depth throughout our website. Browse our library for a complete listing of all the Women to Women articles on female hormonal balance.
Our Personal Program is a great place to start
The Personal Program promotes natural hormonal balance with nutritional supplements, our exclusive endocrine support formula, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and optional phone consultations with our Nurse-Educators. It is a convenient, at-home version of what we recommend to all our patients at the clinic.
We’re always happy to welcome new patients to our medical clinic in Yarmouth, Maine, for those who can make the trip. Click here for information about making an appointment.