MICROANATOMY

Detailed explanation-1: -Although there are eight major endocrine glands scattered throughout the body, they are still considered to be one system because they have similar functions, similar mechanisms of influence, and many important interrelationships.

Detailed explanation-2: -Important endocrine glands include the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, and adrenal glands. There are other glands that contain endocrine tissue and secrete hormones, including the pancreas, ovaries, and testes. The endocrine and nervous systems work closely together.

Detailed explanation-3: -Like the nervous system, the endocrine system is a regulatory system. However, instead of using electrical impulses for signaling, it produces and uses chemical signals called hormones, which travel through the bloodstream and control the actions of cells and organs.

Detailed explanation-4: -The pancreas, for example, is part of the digestive system. It excretes pancreatic juice into the small intestine via the pancreatic duct. But scattered within the pancreas there are also tiny cell clusters called pancreatic islets (or islets of Langerhans) that release hormones into the bloodstream.

Detailed explanation-5: -The endocrine system regulates the metabolic activities of the body like body growth, sexual development & other biological processes. The endocrine gland signalling is slow but its effects are prolonged. Some of the major endocrine glands are the Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid, Thymus, Gonads, etc.