Olivia Ginnard DO and Aikaterini Nella MD
Endocrinology is the scientific and medical discipline that focuses on hormones, including the function and disorders of endocrine glands.
The endocrine system consists of several glands that secrete hormones that affect the different organ systems (Figure1).
The main endocrine glands are the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, adrenal glands, pancreas, and gonads (ovary and testis).
Figure 1. Main endocrine glands and their functions
