What is the Meaning & Definition of glands
The glands are structures that have the ability to produce substances that are capable of producing an effect in another body, they can be released into the blood, toward a cavity as the inside of a viscus, or body surface.
Endocrine glands. Those glands that release their secretions into the blood so that they travel for the organism, this occurs in the case of hormones that are produced in a gland and have an effect on a place distant from the body.
Exocrine glands. In this case the secretion is released near the site when they are produced for which the gland has an excretory duct that transports a viscera inside as it is the case with the secretions of the pancreas that are drained by the Wirsung duct into the intestine, specifically into the duodenum, moms that secrete milk either sweat glands that release sweat to the skin.
Pineal. This gland is located inside the skull at the level of the brain, there are produces melatonin, a hormone responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle.
Hypothalamus. It is a structure of the nervous system that is located in the brain and is intended to regulate other glands of the endocrine system through the production of releasing agents that are necessary to activate the hormonal secretion of the pituitary gland.
Pituitary gland. It is a structure that is also located in the skull, and is contained in a bony structure known as the Sella turcica. She releases stimulators agents of other glands.
Thyroid. It is a structure that is located in the neck, there occur the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 by action of TSH produced in the pituitary gland, these hormones are necessary to activate the various processes related to metabolism.
Parathyroid. They are four tiny glands that are located behind the thyroid, they produce parathormone, substance needed to regulate the calcium metabolism and maintain their stable levels in the blood.
Adrenal. They are two glands located one above each kidney, there occur various hormones such as aldosterone control of blood pressure-related cortisol and sex hormone of male type, or androgens (both the man and the woman).
Pancreas. The pancreas is an endocrine and exocrine gland. Endocrine activity is based on the production of the main insulin hormone related to the metabolism of carbohydrates and the maintenance of the levels of sugar in the blood within normal limits, there also occurs glucagon regulating hormone insulin function. From the point of view of the exocrine pancreas produces amylases, lipases and proteases, enzymes that are released into the digestive tract for digestion of food.
Ovaries. They are two structures located at the sides of the uterus that have function to produce estrogens, main female sex hormone necessary to stimulate sexual activity, ovulation and reproduction.
Testicles. They are two structures located in the scrotum that produce testosterone, the principal male sex hormone necessary for sexual activity and the production of sperm.
There are other structures capable of releasing hormone to the bloodstream without being glands, such is the case of the kidneys, which produce erythropoietin, substance needed to stimulate the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow and adipose tissue which produces an appetite-related hormone called leptin.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.
Types of glands
The final destination of the substances that are produced makes that glands are classified into two major groups:Endocrine glands. Those glands that release their secretions into the blood so that they travel for the organism, this occurs in the case of hormones that are produced in a gland and have an effect on a place distant from the body.
Exocrine glands. In this case the secretion is released near the site when they are produced for which the gland has an excretory duct that transports a viscera inside as it is the case with the secretions of the pancreas that are drained by the Wirsung duct into the intestine, specifically into the duodenum, moms that secrete milk either sweat glands that release sweat to the skin.
Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands are part of the endocrine system, a system which is responsible for the control of the bodies vital functions such as metabolism, regulation of blood pressure, sexual activity and reproduction-related. It consists of several glands.Pineal. This gland is located inside the skull at the level of the brain, there are produces melatonin, a hormone responsible for regulating the sleep-wake cycle.
Hypothalamus. It is a structure of the nervous system that is located in the brain and is intended to regulate other glands of the endocrine system through the production of releasing agents that are necessary to activate the hormonal secretion of the pituitary gland.
Pituitary gland. It is a structure that is also located in the skull, and is contained in a bony structure known as the Sella turcica. She releases stimulators agents of other glands.
Thyroid. It is a structure that is located in the neck, there occur the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 by action of TSH produced in the pituitary gland, these hormones are necessary to activate the various processes related to metabolism.
Parathyroid. They are four tiny glands that are located behind the thyroid, they produce parathormone, substance needed to regulate the calcium metabolism and maintain their stable levels in the blood.
Adrenal. They are two glands located one above each kidney, there occur various hormones such as aldosterone control of blood pressure-related cortisol and sex hormone of male type, or androgens (both the man and the woman).
Pancreas. The pancreas is an endocrine and exocrine gland. Endocrine activity is based on the production of the main insulin hormone related to the metabolism of carbohydrates and the maintenance of the levels of sugar in the blood within normal limits, there also occurs glucagon regulating hormone insulin function. From the point of view of the exocrine pancreas produces amylases, lipases and proteases, enzymes that are released into the digestive tract for digestion of food.
Ovaries. They are two structures located at the sides of the uterus that have function to produce estrogens, main female sex hormone necessary to stimulate sexual activity, ovulation and reproduction.
Testicles. They are two structures located in the scrotum that produce testosterone, the principal male sex hormone necessary for sexual activity and the production of sperm.
There are other structures capable of releasing hormone to the bloodstream without being glands, such is the case of the kidneys, which produce erythropoietin, substance needed to stimulate the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow and adipose tissue which produces an appetite-related hormone called leptin.
Article contributed by the team of collaborators.