The Kneaded Knot

Most people talk about hormones by naming the gland they already know. The thyroid. The ovaries. The adrenals. The pancreas. But before many of those glands act, they are receiving instructions from somewhere else. One of the most important “signal senders” in the endocrine system is the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is a small endocrine gland located at the base of the brain. It sits below the hypothalamus and is connected to it by a stalk made of blood vessels and nerves. The...

Most people think about hormones as if they begin and end with the thyroid, ovaries, adrenals, or reproductive system. But many hormone conversations actually begin higher up. Before the thyroid receives a signal, before the adrenal glands release cortisol, before the ovaries respond to reproductive hormones, and before the body adjusts water balance through antidiuretic hormone, the brain is involved. More specifically, the hypothalamus is involved. The hypothalamus is a small region deep in...

When most people hear the word “hormones,” they usually think of the thyroid. And yes, the thyroid matters. A lot. But the thyroid is only one piece of a much larger system. Hormones are controlled by a network of glands, organs, tissues, and feedback loops that help regulate metabolism, stress response, sleep, blood sugar, reproduction, growth, fluid balance, appetite, mood, and more. This network is called the endocrine system. The endocrine system includes glands and organs that make...