Essay: The Endocrine System

The endocrine system plays a major role in the body. The endocrine system secretes hormones that play a big role in metabolism, growth, and responds to stress. When the body endures stress the body goes through general adaption syndrome (GAS). There are three phases in GAS the first is the alarm phases or also known as the “fight or Flight” response. Resistance is the second phase of the phase that uses the glucocorticoids. Lastly comes the exhaustion phase which is also known as the rest and digest phase. In the exhaustion phase the body begins to break out of homeostasis and the bodies organs begin to fail.
The Autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system work as a pair to maintain homeostasis in short term stress. The pair does this by using the “fight or flight” or the “rest and digest” response. Fight or flight response can be triggered if something terrifying occurs either mentally or physically or in the case of rest and digest phase it is the total opposite. Adrenal Fatigue solutions states that “This system activates the more tranquil functions of the body; those that help maintain a healthy, long-term balance” (Hansen, 2017).
The adrenal gland triggers catecholamines such as adrenaline or non-adrenaline which the triggers either the sympathetic division or the parasympathetic division. This triggers the decision of either staying and dealing with the issue or running away. When the rest and digest division is in effect you most likely will become lazy. When your body releases the adrenalin hormone everything increases your heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. When the rest and digest is in effect it will control all of your resting conditions as well as reduce metabolic rate and helps promote digestion. A hormone is produced by an endocrine gland and then is released where it travels by blood in order for a hormone to reach its target it can take up to a few minutes to even days in order to reach its destination. A neurotransmitter is produced by a neuron and is then released threw the synaptic cleft neurotransmitters can take up to milliseconds to reach the postsynaptic membranes. As you can see neurotransmitters and hormones are different, but they have some similarities such as molecules which can act as a transmitter and a hormone the three most common hormones that can also pass as a neurotransmitter is the Adrenal gland, Thyroid gland, and Gonadal gland. An example of this is norepinephrine which is released by the adrenal gland into the blood stream as a hormone or the sympathetic nerves can release norepinephrine as a neurotransmitter. The endocrine system and Nervous system are linked. In an article “the brain structure known as the hypothalamus connects these two important communication systems” (Cherry, 2018). A scenario of when the flight or fight takes affect is if you were walking alone by yourself at night and you here a noise. Your heart will start to beat faster, and your pupils will dilate, and you might get a thought in your head that says “run”. An example of rest and digest is Thanksgiving when you just get done eating that big turkey dinner and you are so full that you just want to lay down and take a nap. Most of that is because the rest and digest phase and maybe a little because turkey has tryptophan and that can make you drowsy.
In conclusion when your body is under a high amount of stress your body relies on these phases. In fact, if hormones and neurotransmitters did not help each other out who knows what could happen.