difference between endocrine and exocrin
Answers
Endocrine system is composed of a number of endocrine glands. Endocrine glands have specific characteristics such as secrete hormones into the blood stream, no ducts (so, it is called ductless glands). Therefore, these glands have rich blood supply with a large number of blood vessels. Endocrine system and nervous system function in a coordinated way to maintain the many physiological body activities. Hypothalamus, pituitary gland (Posterior and Anterior), adrenal cortex are some of major human endocrine glands.
There are four types of vertebrate hormones, which act on target cells (Taylor et al, 1998). Peptides and proteins, derivative of amines, steroids and fatty acids are them. Endocrine gland releases hormones as a response to the level of specific metabolite in the blood stream. For an example, pancreas releases insulin due to a higher level of glucose. Except that situation, endocrine glands secrete hormones either due to the presence of another hormone or due to stimulation by neurons.
Exocrine Glands
Exocrine gland is a gland that secretes chemical substances into ducts. As an example, sweat gland and salivary glands. In salivary glands, saliva is produced within the gland, and it secrets into saliva duct and travels to the surface. Salivary glands, sweat glands, mammary glands, and adrenal gland are some of examples for the exocrine glands. There are two types of exocrine glands, simple type and compound type. Tubular, branched tubular, and coiled tubular are examples for simple type of exocrine glands and tubular and alveolar are examples for compound exocrine glands.
These exocrine glands have three different ways of secreting products into ducts. Merocrine, holocrine, and apocrine are those three different ways
Endocrine glands are ductless glands whereas exocrine glands possess ducts.
Endocrine glands secrete hormones whereas exocrine glands primarily secrete enzymes.
Endocrine glands release their hormones into bloodstream, which then carries the hormones to the target organ. The exocrine glands, on the other hand, carry their secretions to the target organ via their ducts.