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Endocrine glands

Definition

Endocrine glands release (secrete) hormones into the bloodstream.

The endocrine glands include:

• Adrenal

• Hypothalamus

• Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas

• Ovaries

• Parathyroid

• Pineal

• Pituitary

• Testes

• Thyroid

Information

Hypersecretion is when an excess of one or more hormone is secreted from a gland. Hyposecretion is when the amount of hormones that are released is too low.

There are many types of disorders that can result when too much or too little of a hormone is released.

Disorders that may be associated with abnormal hormone product from a particular gland include:

Adrenal:

• Addison disease

• Adrenogenital syndrome or adrenocortical hyperplasia

• Cushing syndrome

• Pheochromocytoma

Pancreas:

• Diabetes mellitus

• Hypoglycemia

Parathyroid:

• Low blood calcium level

• Tetany (abnormal cramping of muscles)

• Renal calculi (kidney stones)

• Excessive loss of minerals from bone (osteoporosis)

Pituitary:

• Growth hormone deficiency

• Acromegaly

• Gigantism

• Diabetes insipidus

• Cushing disease

Testes and ovaries:

• Lack of sex development (unclear genitalia)

Thyroid:

• Congenital hypothyroidism

• Myxedema

• Goiter

• Thyrotoxicosis

References

Barrett EJ. Organization of endocrine control. In: Boron WF, Boulpaep EL, eds. Medical Physiology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2017:chap 47.

Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, et al. Principles of endocrinology. In: Melmed S, Auchus RJ, Goldfine AB, Koenig RJ, Rosen CJ, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 1.

Newell-Price JDC, Gibb FW. Endocrinology. In: Penman ID, Ralston SH, Strachan MWJ, Hobson RP, eds. Davidson's Principles and Practice of Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 20.

Review Date: 5/12/2023

Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.