There are many glands in the human body that produce many secretions such as sweat, saliva, oil, nerves, etc. Anatomically, these glands are broadly divided into two types according to the presence or absence of ducts.
The endocrine glands secrete hormones without pituitary glands, while the exocrine glands secrete hormones through the pituitary glands. Read on for more differences between the two.
What is Endocrine Glands?
These glands secrete chemicals into the blood or tissues. The endocrine glands are tubeless, which means that chemical substances known as hormones do not pass through any tubes before being released into the bloodstream.
Nerves are messengers responsible for telling a particular part of the body to do something or stop doing something.
Examples: The endocrine glands are called ductless glands. They release the hormones needed to coordinate our activities.
What is Exocrine Glands?
These glands secrete chemical substances into the tube that contribute to the production of mold. Most of these glands secrete secretions from outside the body while others secrete extraglandular secretions at a location deep within the body.
These glands can also be said to synthesize their products directly or in a tube/duct and secrete them to the surface. Some tubules can also change production.
Examples: The exocrine gland passes its secretions to a particular surface or tissue for metabolic functions.
Difference between Endocrine and Exocrine Glands
| Endocrine Glands | Exocrine Glands |
| Ducts | |
| Endocrine glands do not have ducts. | Exocrine glands have ducts. |
| Secretory Products | |
| Hormones | Sweat, enzymes, mucus, sebum |
| Route of Secretion | |
| Secretory products are released directly into the bloodstream, eventually reaching the target organ. | Secretory products are released to an internal organ or the external surface through a duct. |
| Examples | |
| Thyroid glands, parathyroid glands, pituitary glands, adrenal glands. | Salivary glands, liver, Brunner’s glands, oesophageal glands. |
