ANATOMY

GENERAL ANATOMY

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What gland found in the brain produces melatonin?
A
Pineal
B
Pituitary
C
Thymus
D
Thyroid
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the enigmatic pineal gland in response to darkness, hence the name hormone of darkness.

Detailed explanation-2: -The pineal gland produces melatonin, which helps maintain circadian rhythm and regulate reproductive hormones.

Detailed explanation-3: -The pineal gland is located deep in the brain in an area called the epithalamus, where the two halves of the brain join. In humans, this is situated in the middle of the brain; it sits in a groove just above the thalamus, which is an area that co-ordinates a variety of functions related to our senses.

Detailed explanation-4: -The pineal gland secretes melatonin, which is a hormone that helps regulate circadian rhythms. Melatonin is produced according to the amount of light a person is exposed to. The pineal gland releases greater amounts of melatonin when it is dark, which points to melatonin’s role in sleep.

Detailed explanation-5: -The production and release of melatonin from the pineal gland occurs with a clear daily (circadian) rhythm, with peak levels occurring at night. Once produced, it is secreted into the blood stream and cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid around the brain & spinal cord) and conveys signals to distant organs.

There is 1 question to complete.