Biology

Endocrine and Exocrine Glands

690 Questions

The endocrine and exocrine glands topic explores the human body's essential secreting structures, including the pituitary, thyroid, and salivary glands. Questions often focus on gland locations, their specific secretions, and crucial physiological functions. This subject is a core component of the general science syllabus across many highly competitive examinations.

Master endocrine glandsPituitary gland locationSalivary gland functionsThyroid and ductless glandsApocrine sweat glands

Endocrine and Exocrine Glands Questions

Multiple choice zoology the endocrine system adrenal gland thymus and adrenal gland adrenal glands

Adrenal gland is associated with

  1. Pharynx

  2. Pancreas

  3. Kidney

  4. Brain
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
A. Pharynx is a part of alimentary canal that connects nose and mouth to the oesophagus.
B. Pancreas is a heterocrine gland as it acts both as endocrine and exocrine gland. It secretes insulin hormone into blood and act as endocrine gland and when it secretes digestive enzymes and juice through pancreatic duct, it acts as exocrine gland.
C. Kidneys are the bean shaped paired organs present I the abdominal cavity. Each kidney has an adrenal gland on its upper region. Adrenal gland is composed of adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla.
D. Brain is the central organ of nervous system.
Hence, adrenal glands are associated with kidneys. 
So, the correct answer is 'Kidney'.
Multiple choice zoology the endocrine system adrenal gland thymus and adrenal gland adrenal glands

Find out the correct layers in T.S. of adrenal gland.

  1. Medulla, Zona fasciculata, Zona reticularis, Zona glomerulosa

  2. Zona glomerulosa, Medulla, Zona reticularis, Zona fasciculata

  3. Zona glomerulosa, Zona fasciculata, Zona reticularis, Medulla

  4. Zona reticularis, Zona fasciculata, Zona glomerulosa, Medulla
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Adrenal glands are paired glands located at the anterior part of the kidneys. It is composed of two types of tissues, adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. The adrenal medulla is located at the centre and the adrenal cortex lies outside the adrenal medulla. Adrenal cortex is divided into three layers - zona reticularis (innermost layer of the adrenal cortex), zona fasciculata (middle layer of the adrenal cortex) and zona glomerulosa (outermost layer of the adrenal cortex). The correct layers in T.S of adrenal gland is zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis and medulla.
So, the correct answer is 'zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis and medulla'.
Multiple choice zoology the endocrine system adrenal gland thymus and adrenal gland adrenal glands

Choose the correct answer from the alternatives given.
The adrenal glands lie in contact with the back of the:

  1. kidneys

  2. pancreas

  3. thyroid

  4. hypothalamus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Our body had one pair of adrenal glands, one at the anterior part of each kidney. The gland is composed of two types of tissues. The centrally located tissue is called the adrenal medulla and outside this lies the adrenal cortex.

So the correct answer is kidneys.

Multiple choice zoology endocrine system and chemical co-ordination adrenal gland thymus and adrenal gland adrenal glands

The endocrine gland present on the kidney is ..............

  1. Pituitary gland

  2. Thyroid gland

  3. Adrenal gland

  4. Pancreatic glands
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The endocrine gland present on the kidney is the Adrenal gland. The adrenal gland produces various type of hormones like adrenaline and the steroids aldosterone and the cortisol. Each gland has an outer cortex which produces steroid hormones and an inner medulla.

So the correct answer is "Adrenal gland".

Multiple choice zoology skeleton and movements disorders of musculoskeletal system disorders of muscle and skeleton joints and movements

Which of the following endocrine gland is associated with tetanus?

  1. Islets of Langerhans

  2. Thyroid gland

  3. Parathyroid gland

  4. Adrenal gland
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Symptoms of tetanus include
 a)Tetanus often begins with mild spasms in the jaw muscles known as lockjaw. The spasms can also affect the facial muscles and experience spasms and stiffness in various muscles, especially those in jaw, abdomen, chest, back, and neck.
b)Muscle cramps or spasms in your legs, fever, high blood pressure etc
Hypoparathyroidism is decreased function of the parathyroid glands with underproduction of parathyroid hormone. This can lead to low levels of calcium in the blood, often causing cramping and twitching of muscles or tetany (involuntary muscle contraction).
Hence parathyroid gland is associated with tetanus.
So, the correct answer is 'Parathyroid gland'.

Multiple choice zoology control and coordination in living organisms thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Which gland decreases in size with increasing age?

  1. Thyroid

  2. Adrenal

  3. Thymus

  4. Pituitary
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The thymus is a specialized organ of the immune system. Within the thymus, T cells or T lymphocytes mature. At birth, it is about 5 cm in length, 4 cm in breadth, and about 6 mm in thickness. The organ enlarges during childhood and atrophies at puberty. The thymus is at its largest in children. The thymus reaches maximum weight (20 to 37 grams) by the time of puberty. As one ages, the thymus slowly shrinks, eventually degenerating into tiny islands of fatty tissue. By the age of 75 years, the thymus weighs only 6 grams.

Multiple choice zoology control and coordination in living organisms thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Hassall's corpuscles are found in 

  1. Pineal body

  2. Thymus gland

  3. Thyroid gland

  4. Adrenal gland
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Hassall's corpuscles (or thymic corpuscles) are structures found in the medulla of the human thymus, formed from eosinophilic type VI epithelial reticular cells arranged concentrically. 

The cytoplasm in Hassalls corpuscles contains keratohyalin granules and intermediate fibres and may be keratinised. 

Multiple choice zoology control and coordination in living organisms thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Which endocrine gland is not an ectodermal origin?

  1. Pineal body

  2. Anterior pituitary

  3. Adrenal medulla

  4. Thymus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Endoderm, the innermost of the three germ layers, or masses of cells (lying within ectoderm and mesoderm), which appears early in the development of an animal embryo. The endoderm subsequently gives rise to the epithelium (tissue that covers, or lines, a structure) of the pharynx, including the eustachian tube, the tonsils, the thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, and thymus gland; the larynx, trachea, and lungs; the gastrointestinal tract (except mouth and anus), the urinary bladder, the vagina (in females), and the urethra. 

Multiple choice zoology endocrine system and chemical co-ordination thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Hassall corpuscles are characteristic of

  1. Thymus

  2. Adrenal

  3. Pineal

  4. Pancreas
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Hassall's corpuscles also called thymic corpuscles, are structures found in the medulla of the human thymus, formed from eosinophilic type VI epithelial reticular cells, arranged concentrically.
Thus, the correct answer is option (A), 'Thymus'.

Multiple choice zoology endocrine system and chemical co-ordination thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

The endocrine gland related to the immune system is ____.

  1. Thyroid

  2. Thymus

  3. Adrenal

  4. Pineal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
The thymus gland, despite containing glandular tissue and producing several hormones, is much more closely associated with the immune system than with the endocrine system. The thymus serves a vital role in the training and development of T-lymphocytes or T cells, an extremely important type of white blood cell.

So, the correct answer is 'Thymus'.
Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

The gland which is related to the maturation of lymphocytes is

  1. Thymus

  2. Thyroid

  3. Adrenal

  4. Pituitary
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Thymus is small lymphoid structure present in lower art of neck in front of trachea, below the thyroid gland. It is the primary source of lymphocytes before birth and is the site of maturation or development of T-lymphocytes which circulates in lymphoid tissues. 

Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Which endocrine gland becomes inactive after puberty?

  1. Thyroid

  2. Parathyroid

  3. Thymus

  4. Gonads
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Thymus becomes inactive after puberty and shrinks. Most of the glands is replaced by adipose tissue. It produces thymosin which stimulates the development of disease-fighting T cells. The immune system produces most of its T cells during childhood and requires very few new T cells after puberty so the gland degenerates.

So, the correct answer is 'Thymus'.

Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

According to one of the theories of ageing, the decline and disappearance of which gland by late middle age is the primary cause of ageing? 

  1. Thyroid

  2. Parathyroid

  3. Thymus

  4. Posterior lobe of pituitary
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
A. Thyroid gland is situated between the trachea and larynx in the neck and secretes thyroxine hormone which increases oxygen consumption by metabolically active tissues.
B. Parathyroid gland is present in the form of four small pouches which are embedded in the posterior surface of lobes of thyroid gland. This gland secretes parathormone which increases calcium reabsorption from the bones and causes mobilisation of calcium in the blood.
C. Thymus gland is associated with the development of immune system and present on the dorsal side of heart. This gland shows maximum development in children during puberty and by the age of 70, it becomes a tiny structure.
D. Posterior lobe of pituitary is known as neurohypophysis and secretes oxytocin and vasopressin hormone.
Hence, disappearance of thymus gland is primary cause of ageing because immune system of body is affected due to retardation of thymus gland leading to weak immunity.
So, the correct answer is 'Thymus'.
Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Which of the following glands grows to the maximum size at puberty and then diminishes gradually? 

  1. Thymus

  2. Pituitary

  3. Thyroid

  4. Adrenal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
A. Thymus gland is associated with the development of immune system and present on the dorsal side of heart. It secretes thymosin hormone which plays an important role in the differentiation of T-lymphocytes. This gland shows maximum development in children during puberty and after that, it starts diminishing gradually and by the age of 70, it becomes a tiny structure.
B. Pituitary gland is the master gland that regulates the activity of other endocrine glands and secretes many hormones like growth hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone etc.
C. Thyroid gland is situated between the trachea and larynx in the neck and secretes thyroxine hormone which increases oxygen consumption by metabolically active tissues.
D. Adrenal gland is present on upper side of kidneys and has two parts, adrenal cortex which secrete glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and sexocorticoids and adrenal medulla which secrete adrenaline and nor-adrenaline hormone.
So, the correct answer is 'Thymus'.