MICROANATOMY

ENDOCRINE ORGANS AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

ENDOCRINE ORGANS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
The endocrine gland responsible for the body’s circadian rhythm is the ____ gland.
A
thymus
B
pineal
C
parathyroid
D
pituitary
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Your pineal gland is a tiny endocrine gland in the middle of your brain that helps regulate your body’s circadian rhythm by secreting the hormone melatonin.

Detailed explanation-2: -The main function of the pineal gland is to receive and convey information about the current light-dark cycle from the environment via the production and secretion of melatonin cyclically at night (dark period) (6, 7).

Detailed explanation-3: -The pineal gland receives adrenergic innervation, which activates a cascade of circadian events that leads to the nightly formation of melatonin from serotonin. Serotonin is present at high levels in the pineal gland during the day and increases further at night in the absence of melatonin formation (Sun et al., 2002).

Detailed explanation-4: -People may refer to the pineal gland as the third eye because, like your eyes, it responds to light and darkness. The gland contains light-sensitive cells that secrete melatonin in response to changing light throughout the day. It is responsible for helping your circadian rhythm or your sleep-wake cycle.

Detailed explanation-5: -It is a pinecone-shaped small gland located in the middle of the human brain in between the two hemispheres in an area called epithalamus. It was once known as “the third eye”. It is the major site for melatonin secretion, which regulates the body’s internal clock (Circadian rhythm).

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