314 OLIVE OILS AND HEALTH hormones, etc.) between the various organs, driven by the pumping action of the heart. Another key role of the cardiovascular system is to carry carbon dioxide (CO₂), a waste product of cellular respiration, from the tissues to the heart and lungs, where it is expelled from the body through breathing. - endocrine system The endocrine system and the nervous system work closely together to integrate, coordinate, and relate all other physiological systems. The endocrine system consists mainly of glands that produce chemical messengers called hormones. These hormones are produced in one part of the body and travel through the bloodstream to act on other organs or tissues. The glands of the endocrine system (and some of their main hormones) include: the pituitary gland (growth hormone), hypothalamus (oxytocin), pineal gland (melatonin), thyroid gland (thyroxine), parathyroid glands (parathyroid hormone), and adrenal glands (adrenaline, cortisol). Other organs are also part of the endocrine system because they contain endocrine tissue that secretes hormones. These include the pancreas (insulin), liver (somatomedins), kidneys (vitamin D), digestive system (gastrin), ovaries (oestradiol, progesterone), and testes (testosterone). (Hormones listed in parentheses are some of the main ones produced by each organ.) hormones Molecules produced by different glands in the body that act as chemical messengers. They are released by one gland and, mainly through the bloodstream, reach other organs where they induce specific functions. · adrenaline A hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla (the inner part of the adrenal glands) that causes physiological changes in several organs, particularly the liver, adipose tissue, pancreas, muscles, heart, blood vessels, respiratory system, and nervous system, among others. Its effects include the mobilisation of energy substrates (sugars and fats), an increase in heart rate, redistribution of blood flow across different tissues, and activation of the nervous system (among other actions). · corticosteroids A group of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex (the outer part of the adrenal gland). There are two main types: glucocorticoids, such as cortisol and corticosterone, and mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone. Cortisone has glucocorticoid activity but is actually a metabolite of glucocorticoids, and is therefore only found in urine. Corticosteroids have many effects on the body and are used to treat a wide range of conditions. The main actions of glucocorticoids are metabolic and antiinflammatory, while mineralocorticoids help maintain fluid balance and regulate sodium and potassium electrolytes. · glucocorticoids Glucocorticoids are steroid hormones belonging to the corticosteroid family and have several important functions: metabolic (promoting the synthesis and mobilisation of glucose and fats into the bloodstream), anti-inflammatory (the most powerful
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