Difference Between Endocrine Glands vs Exocrine Glands
What is the difference between endocrine and exocrine glands?
Difference Between Endocrine Glands vs Exocrine Glands
Glands are organs that secrete substances that perform certain functions in our body. They are usually made up of epithelial tissue. Their secretions include mucin, hormones, milk, enzymes, electrolytes, etc. They are divided into two types – Endocrine glands and Exocrine glands.
Endocrine glands:
Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the blood and travel to tissues and organs all over the body. They are also called ductless glands as they do not possess any ducts. The hormones released by these glands regulate some important functions in the human body like metabolism, reproduction, menstrual flow, growth, response to injury and stress, and sleep. The response time of the endocrine glands is generally delayed due to the release of substances in the blood, which are then transported to the target tissues. Endocrine glands include the thyroid, testes and ovaries, pituitary gland, hypothalamus and adrenal glands, etc.
Exocrine glands:
Exocrine glands secrete substances such as saliva, sweat, digestive juices, etc, onto our body surfaces. The secretions produced by exocrine glands help in the regulation of multiple functions such as controlling body temperature (through sweat glands), lubricating hair and skin, absorption of nutrients, etc. Exocrine glands possess a quicker response time as they are released directly at the target site. These glands can be classified into two types according to the duct types: simple exocrine gland (unbranched ducts) and compound exocrine gland (branching ducts). Typical exocrine glands are salivary glands, sweat glands, mammary glands, and digestive system glands.
Only the pancreas is the organ in the human body that acts as both endocrine and exocrine glands. It produces pancreatic juice with digestive enzymes via ducts, which comes under the exocrine system. On the other hand, the endocrine function of the pancreas is the production of hormones such as insulin and glucagon that control the amount of sugar in your bloodstream.
– Written By Nikitha
The human body contains several glands that generate numerous secretions such as sweat, saliva, oil, and hormones. These glands may be roughly divided into two groups anatomically, depending on whether ducts are present or not. Exocrine glands emit hormones through ducts, whereas endocrine glands release hormones directly.
For further understanding, we will distinguish them based on:
1. Ducts:
Ducts are present in Exocrine glands and absent in Endocrine glands.
2. Secretory products:
Hormones are secreted by endocrine glands.
Sweat, enzymes, mucus, and sebum are secreted by exocrine glands.
3. Route of secretion:
Hormones released by the endocrine glands are directly secreted into the blood stream that ultimately reaches the target organ.
The exocrine glands release their products through ducts to an internal organ or an external surface.
4. Examples
Endocrine glands: Adrenal glands, pituitary glands, thyroid glands, and parathyroid glands.
Exocrine glands: Oesophageal glands, Brunner’s glands, salivary gland,s and liver.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/21201-endocrine-system
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22947-exocrine-glands
– Written By Jacquelyn Akepogu
Endocrine Glands:-
1. They do not have ducts.
2. They release Hormones.
3. Secretory products are released directly into the bloodstream, eventually reaching the target organ.
4. Thyroid glands, Parathyroid Glands, and Pituitary glands are some examples
Exocrine Glands:-
1. They contain ducts.
2. They release sweat, enzymes, mucus, and sebum.
3. Secretory products are released to an internal organ or the external surface through a duct.
4. Salivary Glands, Liver, and Oesophagus glands are some examples.
– Written By Budhaditya
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