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Endocrine System Cheat Sheet: TEAS 7 Hormones You Must Know

By Sarah Jenkins, M.S.N. · Updated April 18, 2026

Endocrine system illustration showing brain, thyroid, and pancreas for TEAS test prep
What endocrine hormones are tested on the TEAS 7?

The ATI TEAS strictly tests your knowledge of the Hypothalamus (director), Pituitary (master gland), Thyroid (metabolism), Adrenals (fight or flight), and Pancreas (blood sugar regulation via insulin and glucagon).

Ask any pre-nursing student what their most dreaded TEAS Science topic is, and they'll likely say "hormones." There are simply too many. But the secret to the TEAS 7 is realizing you don't have to memorize them all.

The ATI only tests a specific set of core endocrine functions. You can find our comprehensive breakdown of all heavily-weighted science sections in our Ultimate TEAS 7 Study Guide.

The "Big Five" Glands

The endocrine system is a messaging network. Instead of nerves, it uses chemicals (hormones) sent through the bloodstream to tell organs what to do. You must be able to match the gland to its specific job.

  • The Hypothalamus: The CEO of the body. Located in the brain, it links the nervous system to the endocrine system. It tells the pituitary gland what to do.
  • The Pituitary Gland: The "Master Gland." It takes orders from the hypothalamus and sends hormones to almost every other gland in the body.
  • The Thyroid: Located in the neck. Controls metabolism (how fast your body burns energy).
  • The Adrenal Glands: Sitting right on top of your kidneys. They manage your "fight or flight" stress response.
  • The Pancreas: Located behind the stomach. Highly tested because it controls blood sugar.
💡 Tutor's Tip: When you see the word "Pineal" on the exam, instantly think of a pinecone putting you to sleep. The pineal gland secretes melatonin, which regulates your sleep-wake cycles. It's a favorite TEAS filler-question.

The Pancreas Guarantee: Insulin & Glucagon

If you only study one organ in the endocrine system, make it the pancreas. You are practically guaranteed to see a question testing the relationship between insulin and glucagon. This is classic nursing foundational knowledge.

The pancreas operates on a negative feedback loop to keep blood sugar stable:

  • When blood sugar is HIGH (after eating): The pancreas releases Insulin. Insulin acts like a key, unlocking cells so they can absorb sugar from the blood. Blood sugar drops.
  • When blood sugar is LOW (while fasting): The pancreas releases Glucagon. Glucagon tells the liver to break down stored glycogen back into glucose. Blood sugar rises.

The Dual-Function Trick Question

The ATI writes questions specifically designed to catch you speeding. One of their favorite tricks is asking about glands that serve multiple bodily systems.

📋 From the Tutor's Desk

During a recent tutoring session, my student Michael got a question asking: "Which organ serves both an endocrine and an exocrine function?" He immediately chose the liver. He was wrong. The correct answer is the pancreas. I explained it this way: As an endocrine gland, the pancreas pumps insulin directly into the blood. As an exocrine gland, it pumps digestive enzymes through a duct directly into the small intestine. Memorize this dual-function fact — the TEAS tests it relentlessly.

Other High-Yield Hormones

You don't need a medical dictionary, but you should know these specific pairings for the matching questions:

Epinephrine (Adrenaline): Released by the adrenal medulla. Spikes heart rate during stress.

Cortisol: Released by the adrenal cortex. The long-term stress hormone.

Thyroxine: Released by the thyroid. Regulates cellular metabolism.

Parathyroid Hormone: Regulates calcium levels in your blood and bones.

Check Your Knowledge

Once you have this list memorized, jump over to our TEAS 7 Practice Quiz to drill multiple-choice formatting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many endocrine questions are on the TEAS 7?
You'll see approximately 2-4 questions on the endocrine system. These usually test your knowledge of gland locations, specific hormone functions, and the negative feedback loop.
What organ has both endocrine and exocrine functions?
The pancreas. It acts as an endocrine gland by secreting insulin and glucagon into the blood, and as an exocrine gland by secreting digestive enzymes into the small intestine through a duct.
Which gland is the "master gland"?
The pituitary gland is often called the master gland because it controls other endocrine glands, though it operates under the direction of the hypothalamus.
What is the difference between insulin and glucagon?
Insulin lowers blood glucose levels by signaling cells to absorb sugar. Glucagon raises blood glucose levels by signaling the liver to release stored glycogen back into the bloodstream.

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