Endocrine glands
Endocrine glands are specialized cell structures, functioning as part of the endocrine system, that produce and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Unlike exocrine glands, they do not have ducts and release their secretions directly into the local blood or lymph.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of endocrine glands is to secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. Hormones are chemical substances that affect the activity of another part of the body. In essence, hormones serve as messengers, controlling and coordinating activities throughout the body.
Types of Endocrine Glands[edit | edit source]
The human body contains several types of endocrine glands, including the:
Each of these glands secretes a type of hormone into the bloodstream that has a specific effect on the body.
Disorders of the Endocrine Glands[edit | edit source]
Disorders of the endocrine glands can result in numerous health problems. These disorders often lead to hormone imbalance, which can cause a variety of symptoms. Some common endocrine disorders include:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Thyroid disease
- Adrenal insufficiency
- Cushing's syndrome
- Gigantism
- Acromegaly
- Hypogonadism
- Polycystic ovary syndrome
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for endocrine disorders can vary widely depending on the specific disorder and the symptoms. It often involves managing the symptoms and correcting the hormone imbalance. Treatments may include hormone replacement therapy, medications, lifestyle changes, or surgery.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Endocrine glands Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD