Q.There are many endocrine glands in human body. Name the glands which is absent in male and the one absent in female.
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🔒 Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Concept understanding — Human Endocrine System Overview
The Body's Chemical Messenger System
Imagine your body as a vast, busy city. The nervous system is like the telephone network — instant calls, direct lines, fast but short-lived. The endocrine system is the postal service. It sends chemical letters (hormones) through the bloodstream, which travel more slowly but reach every corner of the city and can keep working for hours or days.
These chemical letters tell different organs when to grow, when to release energy, when to prepare for danger, and when to rest. Without them, your body would have no long-term coordination.
What Exactly Is the Endocrine System?
The human endocrine system is the organised collection of ductless glands and specialised hormone-secreting tissues that release hormones directly into the blood. These hormones travel to target cells elsewhere in the body, bind to specific receptors, and trigger a response.
A gland is called endocrine (or ductless) because it secretes its product into the bloodstream, not through a duct. Compare this with exocrine glands (like sweat glands or salivary glands) that release their secretions through ducts to a surface.
The Key Players: Major Endocrine Glands
Here are the main glands and what they roughly do:
| Gland | Location | Major Hormones | Primary Functions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hypothalamus | Brain (above pituitary) | Releasing/inhibiting hormones | Master controller of the pituitary; links nervous and endocrine systems |
| Pituitary | Base of brain (below hypothalamus) | Growth hormone (GH), TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, prolactin, ADH, oxytocin | The "master gland" — controls other glands |
| Thyroid | Neck (below Adam's apple) | Thyroxine (T₃, T₄), calcitonin | Regulates metabolic rate, growth, calcium balance |
| Parathyroid | Embedded in thyroid (4 tiny glands) | Parathyroid hormone (PTH) | Raises blood calcium levels |
| Adrenal (cortex + medulla) | On top of each kidney | Cortisol, aldosterone, adrenaline, noradrenaline | Stress response, salt/water balance, metabolism |
| Pancreas (islets of Langerhans) | Behind stomach | Insulin, glucagon | Controls blood glucose levels |
| Gonads (ovaries/testes) | Pelvis/scrotum | Oestrogen, progesterone, testosterone | Reproduction, secondary sexual characteristics |
| Pineal | Deep in brain | Melatonin | Regulates sleep-wake cycles (circadian rhythm) |
The hypothalamus is technically part of the brain, but it secretes hormones into a special blood vessel system that directly reaches the pituitary. This is why it's considered an endocrine gland too.
How It All Works Together
The system is hierarchical, not democratic. The hypothalamus sends orders to the pituitary, which then sends orders to other glands (thyroid, adrenal cortex, gonads). Those glands then release their own hormones, which act on the rest of the body.
A critical feature is feedback control — mostly negative feedback. When a hormone level rises high enough, it signals the hypothalamus and pituitary to stop producing the stimulating hormones. This keeps everything in balance.
Think of a thermostat: when the room gets warm enough, the heater turns off. That's negative feedback. The endocrine system uses this constantly to avoid over- or under-production.
The Precise Statement …
Among the human endocrine glands, the ovary is absent in males and the testis is absent in females.
- The gonads are listed among the organised endocrine glands, with the testis serving as the male gonad and the ovary as the female gonad.
- The testis is the primary male sex organ, located in a pair within the scrotal sac, and is present only in males. …
Among the organised endocrine glands, the ovary is present only in females and absent in males, while the testis is present only in males and absent in females.
The organised endocrine glands include the gonads, which are sex-specific by definition: the testis in males and the ovary in females. Each gonad carries out two roles at once — a reproductive one and an endocrine one, since each secretes its own hormones alongside its reproductive function. …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-04-AN1 markMCQQ.Match the following: List-1 (Hormone type) List-2 (Example) A. Amine hormone I. Oxytocin B. Peptide hormone II. Oestrogen C. Protein hormone III. Trypsin D. Steroid hormone IV. Insulin V. Epinephrine The correct answer is (A) A – V, B – I, C – III, D – II (B) A – II, B – IV, C – I, D – V (C) A – IV, B – II, C – III, D – I (D) A – V, B – I, C – IV, D – II
›Reveal solutionSolution
Hormones are classified by chemical structure: amines are tyrosine derivatives (epinephrine), peptides are short chains (oxytocin), proteins are long chains (insulin), and steroids are lipid-based (oestrogen). The correct match is (D).
Hormones fall into distinct chemical families, each with characteristic structures and synthesis pathways. Understanding what defines each class lets you match any hormone to its type.
Amine hormones derive from single amino acids, typically tyrosine or tryptophan. They are small, relatively simple molecules. The catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine) and thyroid hormones are classic examples—all built by modifying tyrosine.
Peptide hormones are short chains of amino acids, usually fewer than 50 residues. Oxytocin and vasopressin (ADH) are nonapeptides—nine amino acids linked together. They are synthesized as larger precursors and cleaved to active forms.
Protein hormones are longer polypeptide chains, often with complex three-dimensional structures. Insulin, growth hormone, and prolactin belong here. Insulin is a 51-amino-acid protein with two chains linked by disulfide bonds.
Steroid hormones are lipid molecules derived from cholesterol, featuring the characteristic four-ring steroid nucleus. Sex hormones (oestrogen, testosterone, progesterone) and adrenal cortical hormones (cortisol, aldosterone) are all steroids.
Now let's classify each example in List-2:
- Epinephrine (V) – Synthesized from tyrosine in the adrenal medulla, it is a catecholamine. This is an amine hormone → A – V. …
- TG EAPCET 2026Set ap-2026-05-05-FN1 markMCQQ.Choose the mismatched pair (A) Amine hormone – Thyroxine (B) Peptide hormone – Oxytocin (C) Protein hormone – Testosterone (D) Steroid hormone – Progesterone
›Reveal solutionSolution
The key is to classify each hormone by its chemical nature. Testosterone is a steroid, not a protein, so (C) is the mismatched pair.
The question tests your grasp of the chemical classification of hormones — a fundamental concept in endocrinology. Hormones are grouped into three broad chemical families: peptide/protein (chains of amino acids), steroid (derived from cholesterol), and amine (modified single amino acids). Each hormone’s structure dictates how it travels in blood, binds to receptors, and triggers a response. A mismatch means the hormone’s actual chemical class does not match the one listed.
Let’s examine each option:
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Option (A): Amine hormone – Thyroxine
Thyroxine (T4) is synthesised from the amino acid tyrosine in the thyroid gland. It contains iodine atoms and retains the amine group. This is a classic example of an amine hormone. The pair is correct.
-
Option (B): Peptide hormone – Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a small chain of nine amino acids (a nonapeptide), produced in the hypothalamus and released from the posterior pituitary. It is a peptide hormone. The pair is correct.
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Option (C): Protein hormone – Testosterone …
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