Endocrine glands
Definition
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Endocrine glands release hormones into the bloodstream.
Endocrine glands include the:
- Adrenal
- Hypothalamus
- Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
- Ovaries
- Parathyroid
- Pineal
- Pituitary
- Testes
- Thyroid
Information
When a gland releases a substance, it is called secretion. Hypersecretion is when too many hormones are released. Hyposecretion is when too few hormones are released.
Many different disorders can result when too few hormones or too many hormones are released.
Here is a partial list of disorders that may result when a particular gland does not produce the right amount of hormones.
Adrenal:
Pancreas:
Parathyroid:
- Tetany
- Renal calculi
- Excessive loss of minerals from bone
Pituitary:
Testes and ovaries:
- Lack of sex development (unclear genitalia)
Thyroid:
Ojeda SR, Griffin JF. Organization of the endocrine system. In: Griffin JE, Ojeda SR. Textbook of Endocrine Physiology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 2004:1-16.
Review Date: 4/26/2007
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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