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 plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Endocrine gland responsible for immunity is 

  1. Pineal

  2. Thymus

  3. Pituitary

  4. Adrenal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
A. Pineal gland is a small, rounded and reddish brown gland present at the dorsal side of forebrain. This gland secretes melatonin and serotonin hormones.
B. 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.
C. 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.
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'.
Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Which endocrine gland becomes inactive after puberty?

  1. Adrenal

  2. Pineal

  3. Thymus

  4. Pituitary
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
A. 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.
B. Pineal gland is a small, rounded and reddish brown gland present at the dorsal side of forebrain. This gland secretes melatonin and serotonin hormones.
C. 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.
D. 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.
Hence, thymus becomes inactive after puberty.
So, the correct answer is 'Thymus'.
Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Hassall's corpuscles are found in

  1. Thyroid

  2. Thymus

  3. Adrenal

  4. Pineal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B 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. 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.
C. 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. Adrenaline is secreted in response to stress in the body and is known as emergency hormone. Thus, adrenal gland is an emergency gland.
D. Pineal gland is a small, rounded and reddish brown gland present at the dorsal side of forebrain. This gland secretes melatonin and serotonin hormones.
Hassall's corpuscles are known as thymic bodies. They are present in the medulla of thymus.
So, the correct answer is 'Thymus'.
Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

An endocrine gland that atrophies at the age of 14 - 16 years is

  1. Thyroid

  2. Thymus

  3. Pancreas

  4. Spleen
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B 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. Thymus gland secretes thymosin hormone which plays an important role in the differentiation of T-lymphocytes. This gland shows maximum development in children at the time of puberty (10-14 years) and after that it starts decreasing in size.
C. 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.
D. Spleen is a organ of immune system which produces blood cells.
So, the correct answer is 'Thymus'.
Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Which of these has a role in immunity?

  1. Pineal gland

  2. Thymus

  3. Adrenal gland

  4. Parathyroid gland
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Thymus gland is associated with the development of immune system and present on the dorsal side of heart. It contains lymphoid tissue that plays an important role in proliferation and maturation of T-lymphocytes. It secretes thymosin hormone which plays an important role in the differentiation of T-lymphocytes which are associated with cell mediated immunity. Thymosin also promotes formation of antibodies for humoral immunity. 
So, the correct answer is 'Thymus'.
Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Which is not the function of endocrine gland, located in upper dorsal side of heart and aorta?

  1. Plays important role in development of immune system

  2. Induces differentiation of T-lymphocytes

  3. Induces formation of RBCs

  4. Induces development of T-lymphocytes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
Thymus gland is a lobular structure present on dorsal side of heart and aorta. It is associated with the development of immune system. This gland consists of lymphoid tissue which plays an important role in the maturation and proliferation of T-lymphocytes. It secretes thymosin hormone which stimulates differentiation of T-lymphocytes associated with cell-mediated immunity. Thymosin also promotes formation of antibodies for humoral immunity.
RBCs formation is induced by erythropoietin secreted from juxtaglomerular cells of kidney. 
So, the correct answer is 'Induces formation of RBCs'. 
Multiple choice zoology plants and animal hormones thymus thymus gland pineal gland and thymus

Which of the following glands is lost as the age advances?

  1. Thyroid

  2. Thymus

  3. Pancreas

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

Thymus glands is a specialised lymphoid organ of the immune system. It helps in the maturation of the T cells. it plays an important role during the puberty at the adolescence stage.  After puberty, it degenerates and it is replaced by fat. This shrinkage of thymus mainly takes place due to a high level of sex hormones.

So, the correct answer is option B.

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

The name of endocrine gland in the human brain is

  1. Thyroid

  2. Adrenal

  3. Thymus

  4. Pituitary
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Endocrine glands are group of secretory cells surrounded by an extensive network of capillaries that facilitates diffusion of hormones into the bloodstream. These glands include Pituitary gland, Pineal body, thymus, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands, etc.
Thyroid gland is situated in the neck in front of the larynx and trachea at the level of 5th, 6th and 7th cervical and 1st thoracic vertebrae. The two adrenal glands are situated on the upper pole of each kidney enclosed within the renal fascia. The thymus is a soft gland located behind the breastbone and between the lungs. The pituitary gland is a pea sized structure located at the base of the brain, just below the hypothalamus.
So, the answer is D.

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

Which gland atrophies in adults?

  1. Pancreas gland

  2. Thymus gland

  3. Adrenal gland

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

Thymus gland is a prominent gland at birth but gradually atrophies in the adult. It is a soft, pinkish, bilobed mass of lymphoid tissue. It secretes a hormone thymosin which is involved in producing immunity.

Multiple choice evs excretion in living organisms other systems in the body excretory system in human human excretory organs

Which of the following does not help in excretion?

  1. Liver

  2. Sweat glands

  3. Pancreas

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
In liver the toxic ammonia is converted to urea which is filtered by kidney to form urine. Sweat glands help in excretion of excess salts and water in the form of sweat. Hence, both these organs help in excretion. Pancreas on the other hand, secrete the hormones insulin and glucagon and digestive enzymes. Hence, it has endocrine and digestive functions but not excretory functions.
So, the correct answer is 'Pancreas'.
Multiple choice evs excretion in living organisms other systems in the body excretory system in human human excretory organs

Which one is not supplied exclusively with involuntary muscles?

  1. Iris

  2. Gland ducts

  3. Urethra

  4. Coats of blood vessels
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Iris is supplied by involuntary muscles which contract or relax in response to photo stimuli. Gland ducts have muscles in their walls and in the form of sphincters which are involuntary. Coats of blood vessels also have a muscle layer sandwiched between two other layers. Urethra has two sphincters of which one is involuntary and one is voluntary. Hence, urethra is not exclusively supplied with involuntary muscles.

Multiple choice biology digestive system parts of the digestive system digestive system of human human digestive system

Salivary glands are____________

  1. Merocrine

  2. Apocrine

  3. Holocrine

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
  • A cell is classified as merocrine if the secretions of that cell are excreted via exocytosis from secretory cells into an epithelial-walled duct or ducts and then onto a bodily surface or into the lumen.
  •  The salivary glands are an example of merocrine glands. 
  • Hence, Salivary glands are Merocrine.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Merocrine'.
Multiple choice biology butterfly and honey bee life cycle of a butterfly metamorphosis in frogs the life of a butterfly types of reproduction in animals oviparous and viviparous

Which gland plays a key role in metamorphosis of a frog?

  1. Adrenal

  2. Thyroid

  3. Thymus

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

In amphibians, the metamorphosis of tadpoles occurs after a variable period of from one or two weeks upto several years, depending upon species. The process involves numerous physiological and morphological changes. Thyroxine hormone produced by thyroid gland plays a very important role in the metamorphosis of frog. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice botany modes of reproduction fertilization in organisms sexual reproduction in organisms reproduction in organisms

If cowper's gland is removed, which of the following will be affected?

  1. Sexual attraction

  2. Fertilization

  3. Hardness of penis

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

In human males the urethra, a tube that exits through the penis, carries urine to the exterior and, alternatively, serves as a conduit for seminal fluid. Sperm is carried in a fluid formed along the male reproductive tract by the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and cowper's glands, accessory glands of the male reproductive tract. Thus, if cowper's glands are removed process of fertilization will be affected.