Word parts
What it means
The glands of the endocrine system make hormones, chemical messengers that travel in the blood to act on other organs. They include the pituitary, thyroid glandTHY-royd GLANDA butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that makes hormones that control the body's metabolism.thyr/o thyroid-oid resemblingFull entry , parathyroids, adrenal glands, the hormone-making islet cells of the pancreas, the ovaries and testes, and the pineal gland. Glands that release their product through a duct, such as sweat and salivary glandSAL-ih-vair-ee GLANDA gland that makes saliva and releases it into the mouth.Full entry , are exocrine glands.
At a glance
| Spanish | glándula endocrina |
|---|---|
| Also written | endocrine glands |
Related terms
thymus
A small gland in the upper chest, behind the breastbone, where T cells (a kind of white blood cell) mature.
adrenal cortex
The outer layer of each adrenal gland, which makes the steroid hormones cortisol and aldosterone.
melatonin
A hormone made by the pineal gland in the brain, mostly at night, that helps control the sleep-wake cycle.
luteinizing hormone
A hormone from the pituitary gland that triggers ovulation in women and testosterone production in men.
salivary gland
A gland that makes saliva and releases it into the mouth.