Glands in The Human Body

There are ducted as well as ductless glands. Ducted glands, also called exocrine glands, secrete some chemicals through ducts. Endocrine glands comprise ductless glands. According to signals from the brain, hormones are secreted by them directly into the bloodstream. Hormones can be referred to as chemical messengers. These glands in the human body are a part of the endocrine system. As the nervous system uses nerves to send the required information, the glands of the human body use blood vessels as information channels. Here's an overview of endocrine system.

Endocrine or Ductless Glands of the Human Body

Pituitary Gland
The pituitary gland is located at the base of the skull. This tiny, pea-shaped gland is one of the most important parts of our body. Pituitary gland is called the master gland since it controls the other ductless glands. It influences metabolism and growth.

Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands are shaped like triangular hats, sitting on top of the kidneys.They are about one or two inches in length but weigh only a fraction of an ounce. Yet they secrete almost three dozen hormones! The main functions of adrenal gland include carrying out the metabolic processes and helping the body deal with stress. These glands regulate the fight or flight mechanism of the body.

Thyroid Gland
Thyroid gland, located in the neck, looks like a butterfly! It weighs less than an ounce. Situated below our voice box, thyroid's main function is to regulate the metabolism of the body. The parathyroid glands in the neck govern the growth of muscles and bones. The distribution of calcium and phosphate in the body is determined by them. Functions of the body are severely affected when thyroid problems develop. Over active or under active thyroid glands result in malfunctioning of the body.

Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus is known as the 'brain behind the endocrine system'. The automatic nervous system is governed by it. Located near the pituitary gland at the basal part of the skull, it also controls pituitary secretions. All the automatically adjusted factors such as body temperature, blood pressure, cardiovascular system and abdominal visceral regulation are controlled by the hypothalamus. As we grow older, hypothalamus requires support to maintain optimum level of performance. Dysfunction of the hypothalamus results in depression or abnormal responses to stress. It also leads to disturbances in the brain.

Prostate
Prostate is a chestnut sized gland helping the male reproductive system. It encircles the urethra below the bladder. It plays an important role in deliberating the fertility quotient in men. Prostate also regulates blood pressure. When an enlarged prostate creates pressure on the urethra and bladder, urination problems arise.

Gonads
Gonads are the reproductive glands: ovaries or testicles. They produce germ cells known as gametes. The sex hormones are secreted by the gonads. The almond shaped ovaries are on either side of the uterus, in charge of producing ova or eggs. Estrogen and progesterone are also secreted by them. The testicles are hidden in the scrotum and are responsible for the production of sperms in males. It has a built-in thermostat to keep the sperms at the correct temperature.

Thymus
Positioned in the middle of the chest, beneath the upper part of the breastbone, near the heart, the thymus is pyramid-shaped. It builds resistance for combating diseases and helps in one's physical development. The size of the thymus grows in the early years after birth, playing an important role in the early childhood years. As the body reaches puberty, it starts to shrink.

Pancreas
The pancreas is yellowish in color. It is about 7.5 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. The location of pancreas is behind the stomach. It is connected to the small intestine. Digestion of proteins, carbohydrates and fats is looked after by the pancreas. Insulin and glucagon are secreted into the blood stream by the pancreas. Insulin helps in lowering of the blood sugar level. But if it is found to be too low, glucagon helps increase it. Here's more on function of pancreas. Diabetes occurs when there is a malfunctioning of insulin generating cells. Starvation occurs when pancreas doesn't work to neutralize the chyme. (Chyme is the partly digested food. It is in the form of thick semi-fluid when it passes through the stomach.) Read more on pancreas problems.

Pineal Gland
The pineal gland is located within the brain. It releases melatonin which supervises the biological clock of the body. It controls our walking and sleeping patterns. Sexual development is also controlled by the pineal gland. Melatonin helps us to avoid and get over jet-lags. The pineal gland was considered as the third eye, in the ancient times, with supposed magical powers.

With this you must have realized how the endocrine system function influences body metabolism.

Exocrine or Ducted Glands of The Human Body

Lachrymal Glands
Tears are produced by the lachrymal glands. They are found in the cavity of the eye. Their function of producing tears is controlled by the nervous system. They help in lubrication of the eyes.

Sweat Glands
Sweat is the salty fluid secreted by the sweat glands. Sweat gets accumulated because of the small glands located under the skin. Sweat evaporates when there is excessive heat in the body. Thus, these glands help to maintain the body temperature.

Salivary Glands
Salivary glands are located in and around the mouth and the throat. Saliva from salivary glands initiates the process of digestion. It helps in the moistening of the mouth and prevents tooth decay. The malfunctioning of these glands causes dehydration.

Mammary Glands
Mammary glands exist in both sexes. But, at the onset of puberty, with the help of ovarian hormones, mammary glands start developing in the females. After the birth of a child, the milk from the mammary glands nourishes the baby. The development of tumors in the mammary glands leads to breast cancer.

Sebaceous Glands
Sebaceous glands lie under the skin. They secrete sebum. This fatty substance forms the water repellent layer on the skin. It protects the skin and makes it supple. Due to the dust particles in the atmosphere, the pores on the skin are sometimes blocked. The path of the sebum is thus obstructed, leading to the formation of blackheads. Blackheads are the root cause of acne.

Diseases Caused due the Functional Failure of Glands

Osteoporosis, diabetes, renal failure, multinodular goiter, hyper/hypothyroidism, polycystic ovaries and cancer are some of the diseases caused due to the failure of the glands in the body.

Dwarfism, gigantism, affected puberty and excessive weight are a result of hormonal imbalance in the body. The malfunctioning of one or more glands in the body can lead to mental disturbances, mood swings and high/low blood pressure.

Nowadays, various therapies like massage, shiatsu, aroma therapy, acupuncture and others are available to us for treating malfunctioning of the glands. There are drugs available to control the disorders resulting from the malfunctioning of glands. In extreme cases, surgery, the ultimate option is also available.

Chakra, the Sanskrit word, means 'wheel' or 'turning'. They refer to the important centers on our body. They are the focal points of the human body. They receive and transmit energies. There are seven major chakras according to the Indian Upanishadas. It is interesting to find that the locations of the glands of the human body correspond with the locations of these chakras. The activation of these chakras helps us to gain control over the functioning of glands and achieve peace of mind.

From the overview of the glands of the human body, you can notice that the functions of the endocrine and the exocrine system are of extreme importance to the body.