What are hormones? Name the main hormone of the pituitary, thyroid and pancreas, give one job of each, and name a disorder caused by too little of each.

1. 1 · Define in one line. Hormones are chemicals made by endocrine glands and carried by the blood to target organs, where they start specific activities.
2. 2 · Pituitary. Growth hormone controls the growth of the long bones; too little in childhood causes dwarfism.
3. 3 · Thyroid. Thyroid hormone sets the speed of metabolism; a lack of iodine causes goitre, and an untreated lack in children causes cretinism.
4. 4 · Pancreas. Insulin, with glucagon, controls glucose; too little insulin causes diabetes mellitus.
5. 5 · Link to daily life. Using iodised salt at home prevents goitre.
6. 6 · Close in one line. So hormones control the body chemically, and the right amount matters.

Scoring tip: A three-row table of gland, hormone, job and disorder is quick to write and easy to mark.