Glands are important and present throughout the body. Firstly, what is a gland?
A gland is a group of cells or a secreting organ that excretes a chemical substance. This substance can take the form of hormones, sweat, saliva, mucus, or acids.
There are two types of glands: Exocrine glands and Endocrine glands
Exocrine Glands:
- Exocrine glands have ducts
- Exocrine glands secrete enzymes on to the surface.
- Examples: salivary glands(oral), sebaceous and sweat glands (in the skin), brunner’s glands etc;
Endocrine Glands:
- Endocrine glands do not have ducts.
- The hormones are secreted by the endocrine system.
- The hormones are secreted into the bloodstream. Because of this, the hormones can act over long distances, and reach any organ in the body to coordinate activity.
- Examples: thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pituitary etc;
Let’s summarize the Difference between Exocrine glands and Endocrine Glands
Difference between Exocrine Glands and Endocrine Glands:
| exocrine glands | endocrine glands |
|---|---|
| Duct/ductless | |
| Exocrine glands contain ducts | These are Ductless glands |
| Secretions | |
| Mucous, enzymes, metabolites | Hormones |
| Target organ | |
| Secretion reaches the target organ or internal organ and from there it reaches ducts which are assisted. | Secretions are directly poured into the blood. |
| Effect/No effect | |
| The concentration of secretions varies causing no effect. | The concentration of secretions varies causing diseases/ disorders. |
| Simple/ Complex | |
| Exocrine glands functioning are simple. | Endocrine glands functioning are complex. |
| Term of control | |
| These glands have short term control of the target organ. | These glands have long term control. |
Bottom line:
As a result of the preceding discussion, there are even some exceptions of this they are as follows.
Exception of this is pancreas/ composite glands because it is both exocrine and endocrine glands.
- The parts of exocrine for exception are pancreatic juice.
- The parts of endocrine for exception are insulin and glucagon.
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