Hormones do more than just alter our moods. Hormones are fast-acting chemical messengers that circulate through the bloodstream communicating with different organs, forming the endocrine system. Hormones are produced selectively within major endocrine glands such as the pineal and pituitary glands in and near the brain, the thyroid and thymus glands in the upper chest and throat region, the adrenals and the pancreas near the kidneys, and the gonads (ovaries and testes in females and males, respectively). Hormones are carefully regulated in the body to keep us in balance. The glands and their hormones have specific functions in the body. For example, the pituitary regulates growth as well the functioning of the other glands in the endocrine system. One interesting hormone it regulates is oxytocin, the hormone that causes the contraction of the uterus during pregnancy. Oxytocin is also known as the “love” hormone in science because it appears to