gland
Body's chemical producer
A gland is an organ that produces and secretes substances the body needs—hormones, enzymes, sweat, saliva, tears.
Some glands release into the bloodstream (thyroid, pituitary), others through ducts to specific locations (salivary glands, sweat glands).
Swollen glands usually means enlarged lymph nodes in the neck.
In machinery, a gland is a device that forms a seal around a moving shaft.
Protective bodily secretion
- sweatMoisture from skin pores
- sebumNatural skin lubricant
- salivaMouth's digestive secretion
- tearsViolent pulls apart
milk · bile · cerumen · venom · pheromones · enzymes · hormones · colostrum
Rounded projecting part
- ductTube conveying fluid
- follicleSkin cavity growing strands
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
- isletVery small land mass
cortex · medulla · epithelium · parenchyma · stroma · lobule · alveoli · tubule
Brain-base hormone gland
- thyroidHormone-producing neck gland
- adrenalNear the kidneys
- pancreasDual-function abdominal gland
- pinealShaped like cones
thymus · hypothalamus · ovaries · testes · parathyroid · gonads · islets of Langerhans · anterior
Of spit-producing glands
Female reproductive hormone
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
- insulinPancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- cortisolAdrenal steroid regulating stress
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
progesterone · melatonin · thyroxine · oxytocin · prolactin · glucagon · growth hormone · androgen
Enlarged thyroid gland
- hypothyroidismInsufficient thyroid hormone production
- hyperthyroidismOverproduction of metabolic hormones
- thyroidectomyExcision of neck gland
- levothyroxineSynthetic hormone medication
iodine · neck · thyroiditis · nodule · metabolism · radioactive iodine · biopsy · endocrinologist
Immune system filter
- tonsilsThroat's lymphoid tissue
- adenoidsNasal lymphoid tissue
- spleenBlood-filtering abdominal organ
- thymusLymphoid organ maturing T-cells
swollen · lymphocytes · immunity · infection · axillary · inguinal · cervical · mesenteric
Abnormally enlarged
- enlargedIncreased in size
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
- cancerUncontrolled cell proliferation disease
adenoma · cyst · hyperplasia · atrophy · dysfunction · overactive · underactive · blocked
mucus
Protective bodily secretion
tears · milk · bile · cerumen · venom · pheromones · enzymes · hormones · colostrum · gastric juice
lobe
Rounded projecting part
islet · cortex · medulla · epithelium · parenchyma · stroma · lobule · alveoli · tubule · histology
pituitary
Brain-base hormone gland
pineal · thymus · hypothalamus · ovaries · testes · parathyroid · gonads · islets of Langerhans · anterior · posterior
salivary
Of spit-producing glands
lacrimal · mucous · parotid · sublingual · prostate · ducted · gastric
estrogen
Female reproductive hormone
- testosteroneChief male sex hormone
- insulinPancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- cortisolAdrenal steroid regulating stress
adrenaline · progesterone · melatonin · thyroxine · oxytocin · prolactin · glucagon · growth hormone · androgen · leptin
goiter
Enlarged thyroid gland
- hypothyroidismInsufficient thyroid hormone production
- hyperthyroidismOverproduction of metabolic hormones
- thyroidectomyExcision of neck gland
levothyroxine · iodine · neck · thyroiditis · nodule · metabolism · radioactive iodine · biopsy · endocrinologist
lymph node
Immune system filter
thymus · swollen · lymphocytes · immunity · infection · axillary · inguinal · cervical · mesenteric · lymphoma
swollen
Abnormally enlarged
- enlargedIncreased in size
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- tumorAbnormal tissue mass
cancer · adenoma · cyst · hyperplasia · atrophy · dysfunction · overactive · underactive · blocked · infected
- swollen glandsInflamed immune tissue masses
- sweat glandOrgan secreting perspiration
- prostate glandsMale reproductive accessory organs
- adrenal glandsHormone organs above kidneys
- pituitary glandBrain-base hormone producer
- mammary glandsMilk-secreting organs