Gland

This article is about the gland in animals. For information specific to plants, see Gland (botany).
For other uses, see Gland (disambiguation).
Gland
Human submandibular gland. At the right is a group of mucous acini, at the left a group of serous acini.
Details
Identifiers
Latinglandula
THH2.00.02.0.02002
Anatomical terminology

A gland is a cell or an organ in an animal's body that produces and secretes different substances that the organism needs, either into the bloodstream or into a body cavity or outer surface.[1] A gland may also function to remove unwanted substances such as urine from the body.[2]

There are two types of gland each with a different method of secretion. Endocrine glands are ductless and secrete their products, hormones, directly into interstitial spaces to be taken up into the bloodstream. Exocrine glands secrete their products through a duct into a body cavity or outer surface.[2]

Glands are mostly composed of epithelial tissue, and typically have a supporting framework of connective tissue, and a capsule.[2]

  1. ^ "Definition of Gland". medicinenet.com. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Saladin, Kenneth S. (2011). Human anatomy (3rd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. pp. 73–75. ISBN 9780071222075.