Glands and Hormones in Human Body

A gland is an organ in the body made of a group of secreting cells. There

are several kinds of glands in a human body some of the most common
glands are
Salivary glands - secrete saliva
Sweat glands- secrete sweat
Mammary glands- secrete milk
Endocrine glands - secrete hormones There are two types of glands. They
are:
i) Exocrine glands
ii) Endocrine glands

Endocrine glands
• These are ductless glands (no tube to carry to various parts).
• Their secretions are directly released into the blood which carries them to various parts of the body.

Exocrine glands
• The exocrine glands have ducts.
• The secretions from these glands are carried through the
ducts.
• The ducts may open outside the body to release the
secretions (e.g.sweat, milk) or may be released on to
another surface within the body (e.g. Digestive juices)

Endocrine glands are the glands which secrete the hormones directly into the blood. There are many endocrine
glands and tissues in the body which secrete hormones. The most important glands/tissues that secrete
hormones in the body are
• Hypothalamus
• Pituitary gland
• Pineal gland
• Thyroid gland
• Parathyroid gland
• Thymus
• Adrenal gland
• Pancreas
• Testis
• Ovary

Major Endocrine Glands

 The liver is the largest gland in the human body. It is also the
largest (internal)organ in our body and can weigh up to 1.5 kg
for a human adult.
 Thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland of the body. It is
present in the neck region and is responsible for the secretion of
hormones like thyroxine that control the metabolic rate in the
body.
 The pituitary gland or hypophysis is the smallest gland in the
human body.
Pituitary gland
• Enclosed deep within the skull, the pituitary gland is the size of a pea.
• This gland is regarded as the master gland as it controls the functions of all the other
glands (such as the adrenal, thyroid glands) in the endocrine system.
• One of the hormones secreted by the pituitary gland is growth hormone. This growth
hormone controls the development of bones and muscles. A person having a
deficiency of growth hormone becomes very short and the person having too much
growth hormone becomes very tall.
• It is often called as the “master gland” because it produces and secretes a
variety of hormones that regulate the function of many other endocrine
glands in the body.

 The pituitary gland is divided into two main parts: the anterior pituitary (adenohypophysis) and the posterior
pituitary (neurohypophysis).
 Hormones Produced by the Anterior Pituitary:
 Growth Hormone (GH): Stimulates growth and cell
reproduction in bones, muscles, and other organs.
 Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH): Stimulates the thyroid
gland to produce thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism.
 Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH): Stimulates the adrenal
glands to produce cortisol, a hormone that helps the body
respond to stress.
 Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing Hormone
(LH): Regulate the menstrual cycle and reproductive function in
females and stimulate the production of testosterone in males.
 Prolactin: Stimulates milk production in females after childbirth.
 Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone (MSH): Stimulates the production of
melanin, a pigment that gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes.
 Hormones Produced by the Posterior Pituitary:
 Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH): Regulates water balance by decreasing the
amount of water excreted in the urine.
  Oxytocin: Stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and promotes the release of milk from the
breasts during nursing.
 Most pituitary gland hormones are proteins (consists of peptides) or peptides (short chains).

Thyroid Gland
• The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located in the
neck, just below Adam’s apple.
• The thyroid gland is attached to the windpipe and makes a hormone
called thyroxin which contains iodine.
• The function of this hormone is to control the rate of metabolism of
carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the body.
• Iodine is essential for the normal rate of hormone synthesis in the
thyroid. Deficiency of iodine in our diet results in hypothyroidism and
enlargement of the thyroid gland, commonly called goitre.
• These hormones also support the process of red blood cell formation.
• Thyroid hormones control the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
• Maintenance of water and electrolyte balance is also influenced by thyroid hormones.
• Thyroid gland also secretes a protein hormone called Thyrocalcitonin (TCT) which regulates the blood
calcium levels.

Parathyroid Gland
• In humans, four parathyroid glands are present on the back side of the thyroid gland, one pair each in the
two lobes of the thyroid gland.
• The parathyroid glands secrete a peptide hormone called Parathyroid Hormone (PTH). The secretion of PTH is
regulated by the circulating levels of calcium ions. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) increases the Ca2+ levels in
the blood.
• Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a hormone your parathyroid glands release to control calcium levels in your
blood. It also controls phosphorus and vitamin D levels. If your body has too much or too little parathyroid
hormone, it can cause symptoms related to abnormal blood calcium levels.

Thymus Gland
 This gland is present in the lower part of the neck and upper part of the
chest.
 Thymus gland secretes thymus hormone which helps in the development
of the immune system of the body.
 This gland secretes the peptide hormones called Thymosins.
 Thymosins play a major role in the differentiation of T-lymphocytes,
which provide cell-mediated immunity.
 In addition, thymosins also promote production of antibodies
 Thymus is degenerated in old individuals resulting in a decreased
production of thymosins. As a result, the immune responses of old persons become weak.
Adrenal glands
• Adrenal glands are located at the top of two kidneys
• Our body has one pair of adrenal glands, one at the anterior part of each
kidney. The gland is composed of two types of tissues. The centrally
located tissue is called the adrenal medulla, and outside this lies the
adrenal cortex.
• These glands produce over 150 hormones that regulate different
functions in the body.
• The most well known is Adrenaline.
• Adrenaline and noradrenaline are rapidly secreted in response to stress of any kind and during emergency
situations and are called emergency hormones or hormones of Fight or Flight.
• It does this by:
• Increasing blood sugar levels
• Increasing the blood supply to the muscles, particularly to the limbs.
• Dilating the pupils
• Increasing the heart rate
• Tightening the jaw muscles.
• Aldosterone:
• Aldosterone is a hormone that helps regulate salt and water balance in the body by increasing the
reabsorption of sodium ions and the excretion of potassium ions.

Pancreas
 The pancreas is exocrine as well as an endocrine gland that sits behind the
stomach. It is roughly 6 inches long and rather flat. The pancreas has two
primary roles to play:
• Producing digestive enzymes
• Producing hormones such as insulin and glucagon.

 The endocrine pancreas consists of ‘Islets of Langerhans’. There are about 1 to 2 million Islets of Langerhans
in a normal human pancreas

• Insulin is produced by the β cells in the pancreas and it helps in regulating the blood glucose levels in the
body from getting too high.
• As we are all aware, the lack of insulin causes type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
• Glucagon: Glucagon is a hormone that works in opposition to insulin, raising blood sugar levels. It is produced
by alpha cells in the islets of Langerhans and promotes the breakdown of glycogen (stored glucose) in the
liver, releasing glucose into the bloodstream.
• Lack of glucagon leads to hypoglycemia
• Another key difference between the two is insulin becomes active when the blood glucose levels are high,
and glucagon become active only when blood glucose levels are low.
• Somatostatin: Somatostatin is a hormone that inhibits the release of both insulin and glucagon, helping to
regulate blood sugar levels.
Testes/Ovaries
 Testosterone: Testosterone is produced by the Leydig cells in the testes and is responsible for the
development of male reproductive organs, secondary sexual characteristics, and the regulation of sperm
production.
 Estrogen: Estrogen is produced by the follicles in the ovaries and is responsible for the development of
female reproductive organs, secondary sexual characteristics, and the regulation of the menstrual cycle.
 Progesterone: Progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum in the ovaries and is involved in the regulation
of the menstrual cycle and plays a crucial role in pregnancy.