Question

Enlist human endocrine glands.
Describe the T.S. of thyroid gland and add a note on deficiency of thyroxine.

Answer 1

The common examples of the endocrine glands are ovaries, testes, pancreas, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, thymus and parathyroid gland.

The thyroid gland is a gland which is present in the neck. This is present in the front part of the neck and is located below the larynx. The shape of the gland is like a butterfly. The gland is bilobed and there are many lobules in this gland. The two lobes are joined by the narrow region called as isthmus. There are follicle cells in these lobules which produce the thyroid hormones. The thyroid hormones are responsible for regulating the metabolism of the body. There are large cells between the follicle cells called as parafollicular cells of C cells. These cells secrete calcitonin.

Thyroxine hormones are responsible for maintaining and regulating the different biochemical reactions, determine the basal metabolic rate, uptake of the nutrients and energy production. The deficiency of the thyroxine hormones may result in hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.