The hormonal system (also called the endocrine system) is a network of glands and organs in the body that produce hormones.

Hormones are important for almost all cells in the body to work. They influence your metabolism, growth and many other functions.

You have a number of glands that produce hormones, including the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland, the pineal gland, the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, the adrenal glands, the pancreas, ovaries and testes.

Each gland makes one or more hormones. Some hormones influence almost all cells in the body. Others only influence a small number of cells in specific organs.