MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Endocrine glands

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Endocrine glands

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Definition	Information References

Illustrations

Endocrine glands

Brain-thyroid link

Definition Return to top

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 Return to top

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:

References Return to top

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.

Update Date: 4/26/2007

Updated by: Robert Hurd, MD, Professor of Endocrinology, Department of Biology, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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