endocrine 2

Question 1

endocrine 2

Answer 1

The major endocrine organs of the body include the pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus and adrenal glands, pancreas, and gonads (ovaries and testes) (Figure 9.3). The hypothalamus, which is part of the nervous system, is also recognized as a major endocrine organ because it produces several hormones. Some hormone-producing glands (the anterior pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, and adrenals) have purely endocrine functions, but others (pancreas and gonads) have both endocrine and exocrine functions and are thus mixed glands. Both types of glands are formed from epithelial tissue, but the endocrine glands are ductless glands that produce hormones that they release into the blood or lymph. (As you might expect, the endocrine glands have a rich blood supply.) Conversely, the exocrine glands release their products at the body’s surface or into body cavities through ducts (exocrine glands have an exit). We have already discussed the formation of and differences and similarities between these two types of glands (recall what you learned in Chapter 3). Here we will focus on the endocrine glands. A summary of the endocrine organs and their hormones’ main actions and regulatory factors appears in Table