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 endocrine system and chemical co-ordination pineal gland pituitary gland and pineal gland pineal gland and thymus

Pineal gland is located

  1. On kidney

  2. In brain

  3. In pancreas

  4. Near thyroid
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Pineal gland, known as epiphysis, is located on dorsal side of forebrain. It is a small, rounded, stalked and reddish brown gland that resembles a pine cone. It secretes melatonin and serotonin hormone. Melatonin regulates circadian rhythm of body, pigmentation, metabolism and defence capability. Serotonin acts as a neurotransmitter and regulates functions of many organs of body like memory, sleeping, learning etc.
So, the correct answer is 'In brain'.
Multiple choice zoology endocrine system and chemical co-ordination pineal gland pituitary gland and pineal gland pineal gland and thymus

Name the gland which is located under corpus callosum.

  1. Adrenal gland

  2. Thyroid gland

  3. Pineal gland

  4. Thymus gland
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 (Cortisol), mineralocorticoids (Aldosterone) and sexocorticoids (Androgen) and, adrenal medulla which secrete adrenaline and nor-adrenaline hormone.
B. Thyroid gland is situated between the trachea and larynx in the neck and secretes thyroxine hormone which increases oxygen consumption by metabolically active tissues.
C. Pineal gland is a small, rounded and reddish brown gland present at the dorsal side of forebrain. It is located under corpus callosum (bridge between right and left sides of brain). This gland secretes melatonin and serotonin hormones.
D. 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.
So, the correct answer is 'Pineal gland'.
Multiple choice zoology endocrine system and chemical co-ordination pineal gland pituitary gland and pineal gland pineal gland and thymus

Pineal gland secretes melatonin which is connected to

  1. Colouration of skin

  2. Sleep

  3. Anger

  4. Body temperature
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Pineal gland is a small, rounded and reddish brown gland present at the dorsal side of forebrain. This gland secretes melatonin and serotonin hormones. Melatonin is derived from amino acid tryptophan and secreted from pineal gland. It regulates the 24 hour rhythm of our body like sleep-wake cycle. Its levels in the body increase during night and fall in the morning time. High levels of melatonin induce sleep and hence, it regulates sleep-wake cycle of the body.
So, the correct answer is 'Sleep'.
Multiple choice zoology endocrine system and chemical co-ordination pineal gland pituitary gland and pineal gland pineal gland and thymus

The pineal body is considered as

  1. An endocrine gland

  2. An organ concerned with voluntary actions

  3. An organ concerned with vision

  4. A vestige of third eye and endocrine gland
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
The pineal body is made up of the secretory cells called the pineolocytes. It is attached to the roof of the epithalamus in the diencephalon of the forebrain. During the embryonic development, it is found attached to the brow spot between the eyes of the developing embryo. In some reptiles, the pineal gland is present in the form of the parietal eye or the pineal eye which is photosensitive and is involved in regulating the diurnal cycle. In mammals, it does not form the photosensitive structure but it is involved in the secretion of the hormone called the melatonin which regulates the sleep-wake cycle. It is degraded during the bright light and accumulates in dim light.
Hence, the correct answer is 'A vestige of third eye and endocrine gland'
Multiple choice zoology endocrine system and chemical co-ordination pineal gland pituitary gland and pineal gland pineal gland and thymus

Which of the following gland in our body controls the biological clock in the human body?

  1. Pitutary gland

  2. Thyroid gland

  3. Pineal gland

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

  • The pineal gland is an endocrine gland located on the dorsal side of the forebrain. Pineal secretes a hormone called melatonin.
  • Melatonin plays a very important role in the regulation of a 24-hour (diurnal) rhythm of our body. For example, it helps in maintaining the normal rhythms of the sleep-wake cycle, body temperature. In addition, melatonin also influences metabolism, pigmentation, the menstrual cycle as well as our defense capability. Hence the gland in our body that controls biological clock is a Pineal gland.

So, the correct answer is 'Pineal gland'.

Multiple choice biology control and coordination in living organisms parathyroid gland thyroid and parathyroid gland thyroid, parathyroid and thymus gland

The pituitary gland by virtue of its tropic hormones controls the secretory activity of other endocrine glands. Which one of the following endocrine glands can function independently of the pituitary gland?

  1. Thyroid

  2. Gonads

  3. Adrenal

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

The parathyroid glands are four tiny glands, located in the neck, each gland is about the size of a grain of rice. Parathyroid gland secretes parathormone hormone, which regulates $Ca^{++}$ and phosphate ion in the body. This gland works independently to the pituitary gland. 

The pituitary gland, on the other hand, is the major endocrine gland, a pea-sized body attached to the base of the brain that is important in controlling growth and development and the functioning of the other endocrine glands, which includes thyroid, gonads and adrenals etc. 
Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice biology plants and animal hormones parathyroid gland thyroid and parathyroid gland thyroid, parathyroid and thymus gland

The pituitary gland by virtue of its tropic hormones controls the secretory activity of other endocrine glands. Which one of the following endocrine glands can function independent of the pituitary gland?

  1. Adrenals

  2. Gonads

  3. Thyroid

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

Parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands in the neck of humans and other tetrapods that produce parathyroid hormone. Humans usually have four parathyroid glands, variably located on the back of the thyroid gland. Parathyroid hormone and calcitonin (one of the hormones made by the thyroid gland) have key roles in regulating the amount of calcium in the blood and within the bones. The major function of the parathyroid glands is to maintain the body's calcium and phosphate levels within a very narrow range, so that the nervous and muscular systems can function properly. The parathyroid glands do this by secreting parathyroid hormone.

So the correct option is 'parathyroid'.

Multiple choice zoology endocrine system and chemical co-ordination parathyroid gland thyroid and parathyroid gland thyroid, parathyroid and thymus gland

Gland responsible for calcium metabolism is 

  1. Thymus

  2. Thyroid

  3. Parathyroid

  4. Adrenal
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C 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.
B. Thyroid gland is situated between the trachea and larynx in the neck and secretes thyroxine hormone which increases oxygen consumption by metabolically active tissues.
C. 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.
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.
Hence, the gland responsible for calcium metabolism is parathyroid gland.
So, the correct answer is 'Parathyroid'.
Multiple choice biology control and coordination in living organisms different type of gland glands in humans coordination in human beings- chemical control

Which of the following gland is both endocrine as well as exocrine? 

  1. Thyroid

  2. Pancreas

  3. Payers patches

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

The pancreas has both endocrine functions (secreting insulin and glucagon into the blood) and exocrine functions (secreting digestive enzymes into the small intestine).

Multiple choice biology endocrine system and adolescence different type of gland glands in humans coordination in human beings- chemical control

Salivary, tear, gastric and intestinal glands are examples of

  1. Endocrine glands

  2. Exocrine glands

  3. Embryonic tissue

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

Exocrine glands are glands that produce and secrete substances onto an epithelial surface by way of a duct. Examples of Exocrine glands include sweat, salivary, mammary, ceruminous, lacrimal, sebaceous, and mucous. 

So, the correct option is B ( Exocrine gland )

Multiple choice biology endocrine system and adolescence different type of gland glands in humans coordination in human beings- chemical control

Endocrine glands put their secretions directly into

  1. Ducts

  2. Blood

  3. Both

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
  • Endocrine glands are glands of the endocrine system that secrete their products, hormones, directly into the blood rather than through a duct because endocrine glands lack ducts. Hence they are also called ductless glands.
  • The major glands of the endocrine system include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, hypothalamus, and adrenal glands.
  • Hence endocrine glands put their secretions directly into the blood.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Blood'.
Multiple choice biology endocrine system and adolescence different type of gland glands in humans coordination in human beings- chemical control

What is the other name of the endocrine glands?

  1. Duct gland

  2. Normal

  3. Ductless gland

  4. Oesophagus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation
  • Endocrine glands are glands of the endocrine system that secrete their products, hormones, directly into the blood rather than through a duct because endocrine glands lack ducts. Hence they are also called ductless glands.
  • The major glands of the endocrine system include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, hypothalamus, and adrenal glands.
  • Hence the other name of the endocrine glands is ductless gland.
  • So, the correct answer is 'Ductless gland'.