Secretion
(Redirected from Secretory pathway)
Secretion is the process of producing and releasing substances from a cell or a gland in the body. The substances secreted can be enzymes, hormones, or other important compounds necessary for the body's functioning. Secretion is a fundamental biological process that occurs in all organisms, including bacteria, plants, and animals.
Types of Secretion[edit | edit source]
There are several types of secretion, including exocrine secretion, endocrine secretion, and autocrine secretion.
- Exocrine Secretion: This type of secretion involves the release of substances through a duct. The substances can be released into the external environment or into another part of the body. Examples of exocrine secretion include sweat, saliva, and digestive enzymes.
- Endocrine Secretion: This type of secretion involves the release of hormones directly into the bloodstream. These hormones then travel to other parts of the body where they exert their effects. Examples of endocrine secretion include the release of insulin by the pancreas and the release of adrenaline by the adrenal glands.
- Autocrine Secretion: This type of secretion involves the release of substances that act on the same cell that produced them. This is a form of cell signaling, and it is important in many biological processes, including immune responses and cell growth.
Mechanism of Secretion[edit | edit source]
The mechanism of secretion involves the transport of substances from the inside of a cell to the outside. This process is complex and involves several steps. First, the substance to be secreted is synthesized in the cell. Then, it is packaged into vesicles, which are small, membrane-bound compartments. These vesicles then move to the cell membrane, where they fuse with it and release their contents into the extracellular space.
Role in Health and Disease[edit | edit source]
Secretion plays a crucial role in maintaining health and homeostasis in the body. For example, the secretion of digestive enzymes helps break down food into nutrients that the body can use. However, problems with secretion can also lead to disease. For example, insufficient insulin secretion can lead to diabetes, and over-secretion of stomach acid can lead to ulcers.
See Also[edit | edit source]
| Secretion 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
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. 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
