Which structure is the conductor, or master gland, of the hormone-producing system?

I believe the correct answer is the hypothalamus.

The hypothalamus is te master gland and produces regulatory hormones that regulate the production of other hormones. e.g. Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) that is released by the hypothalamus stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to produce Lutenizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH).

The endocrine system is triggered by electrical impulses and environmental changes. The organs involved in this system are called endocrine glands and they secrete hormones which are the messengers being used. In the endocrine system, there is the master endocrine gland that produces hormones which regulate the release of other hormone. The master endocrine gland is the hypothalamus. Hormones are classified according to their composition i.e. those that are protein in nature are called polypeptides while those that are not protein in nature belong to the other class called the steroid hormones. Polypeptide hormones examples include prolactin that enables lactating mothers to produce milk and oxytocin that is a pleasure hormone and triggers the birth process in pregnant mothers. Steroid hormones include sex hormones such as testosterone and oxygen. Hormones can alter metabolism i.e. glucagon, insulin and ghrelin. Some others are growth hormones include somatostatin. Lack of these hormones can prove to be detrimental at times e.g. the condition called Cushing's syndrome is caused by inabiliy of the adrenal glands to produce the hormone adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH). Another example is a malfunction of the beta cells of the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas that produces the hormone insulin causes the common condition known as diabetes.

All the endocrine glands are: i) The hypothalamus that produces regulatory hormones such as Gonadotropin releasing hormone which stimulates the anterior pituitary hormone to produce other hormones and thyrotropin releasing hormone. ii) The pituitary gland separated into the anterior and posterior pituitary glands producing oxytocin, vasopressing, prolactin, lutenizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropin releasing hormone. iii) Thyroid glands that produce tetraiodothyronine and triiodothyronine. iv) Parathyroid gland producing the parathyroid hormone. v) Adrenal gland producing the hormones cortisol, aldosterone and testosterone. vi) Pancrease producing the hormones insulin and glucagon. vii) Testes (Leydig cells) producing the hormone testosterone. viii) Ovaries producing estrogen and progesterone.

1. Learn more about the endocrine system:

2. Learn more about sex hormones:

3. Learn more about cell communication and homeostasis:

Level: High School

Subject: Biology

Topic: Homeostasis