Glands Flashcards
Define a gland
An epithelial cell or an aggregate (cluster) of epithelial cells that are specialised for the secretion of a substance
Define secretion
Production and release of materials by a cell or aggregate of cells
How are glands classified? (2)
Their structure
How their products are released
What are the two types of glands?
What is the key difference?
Endocrine - ductless, so secrete directly into the blood
Exocrine - ducted, so secrete into the duct
What do endocrine glands secrete?
Hormones
What do exocrine glands secrete?
Enzymes or lubricants
Give 3 examples of an endocrine gland
Pituitary gland
Thyroid gland
Parathyroid gland
Give 3 examples of an exocrine gland
Salivary gland
Pancreas
Mammary gland
Sweat glands
Sebaceous gland
Lachrymal gland
What do mammary glands secrete?
Colostrum and milk
What do sebaceous glands secrete?
Sebum onto the skin and in the ear
What do lachrymal glands secrete?
An aqueous fluid to the moisten the eye
What cells secrete hormones in endocrine glands?
All epithelial cells in the gland
What cells secrete hormones in exocrine glands?
Cells at the apex of the duct (the bottom)
What is the process in which glands develop?
Adenogenesis
What are the three steps of general gland formation?
- Growth signal received
- Proliferation of cells occurs and extracellular protein degradation enzymes produced
- Epithelial cells invade subjacent connective tissue
What does it mean when cells proliferate?
An increase in the number of cells as a result of cell growth and cell division
What happens after cells invade the space in the development of exocrine glands?
Central cells die off
A duct is produced
Branching
What happens after cells invade the space in the development of endocrine glands?
- Angiogenic factors produced - stimulates blood vessel growth
- No branching
Which type of gland is not linked to mother cells?
How is it not?
Endocrine
Broken through apoptosis
How does branching occur?
- FG10 released by immature fibroblasts
- Epithelial cells move towards the signal
If the duct doesn’t branch what would it do in response to growth factors?
Tubule elongation
What stops elongation and branching?
Sonic the hedgehog
What stimulates
Tubule elongation?
Tubule branching?
GF1 active + GF2 inactive
GF1 inactive + GF2 active
What do the two types of cells in exocrine glands do?
Line the duct
Make secretory products
What are the two types of tubular secretory structure?
Simple duct - does not branch
Compound duct - branches
What happens to some of the cells at the secretory ends of the ducts?
What is their function?
Turn into myoepithelial cells
Help eject secretions
What are the two types of secretion for salivary glands?
Mucous
Serous