Human Anatomy - H. I. Koliadenko 2009

Endocrine (Ductless) Glands
General Information

Endocrine glands play a crucial role in regulating the body's vital Functions. Their primary characteristic is the absence of excretory ducts; their Hormones, or incretions, are secreted directly into the bloodstream. Hormones stimulate or, conversely, inhibit The activity of individual Organs and the Organism as a whole. The Action of Hormones is specific, and they are rapidly broken down.

The activity of the endocrine glands depends on and is regulated by The Nervous system, while hormones, in turn, affect the nervous system, particularly the Autonomic nervous system. This type of regulation is known as neurohumoral.

The endocrine glands include The Thyroid Gland, Parathyroid glands, Thymus, Adrenal Glands, Pituitary Gland, pineal body, cerebral epiphysis, pancreatic islets, and Gonads.

Depending on their origin, endocrine glands are divided into three groups: neurogenic, which develop from neural tissue primordia (including the pineal body, posterior pituitary, and chromaffin glands); branchiogenic, which develop from the epithelium of the pharyngeal pouches (including the thyroid, parathyroid, thymus glands, and anterior pituitary); and mesodermal, which develop from the mesoderm (including the adrenal cortex and the Endocrine portion of the gonads).



Last update: 08/08/2026

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