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gland
gland
The Oxford Companion to the Body
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2001
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© The Oxford Companion to the Body 2001, originally published by Oxford University Press 2001. (Hide copyright information)
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gland A group of cells with a communal secretory function.
Exocrine glands incorporate a duct, or a system of ducts like tributaries leading to a river, which open onto an external or internal body surface. Some are simple or spiral pits(such as sweat glands in the
skin or those which secrete acid and enzymes into the
stomach) with a few secreting cells in their depths; others vary in size and complexity from the small
salivary glands to the
mammary glands (
breasts).
Endocrine glands by contrast are ductless, and secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream. The activity of all glands is regulated by chemical or nervous signals, or both. Molecules in the local environment, or brought by the blood, or released from nerve endings of the
autonomic nervous system bind to cell
membrane receptors, starting a sequence of signals within the cells which results in an increase (or decrease) in extrusion of their own particular secretion.
The nodular enlargements which can be felt under the skin in association with an infection (such as those in the neck with a sore throat) are commonly called swollen ‘lymph glands’, but they are not secretory and are more correctly called
lymph nodes.
Stuart Judge
See
adrenal glands;
alimentary system;
breasts;
hormones;
pancreas;
parathyroid glands;
pituitary gland;
sweating;
thyroid.
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Salivary gland scintigraphy: The use of semiquantitative analysis for uptake and clearance
Magazine article from: Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology; 6/1/2003; ; 700+ words
; ...and submandibular glands or the right and...Uptake in the parotid gland was 1.5-2 times...the submandibular gland. The washout fraction...60 for the parotid glands and 0.77 + or...affecting the salivary glands. In Sjogren's...severity of salivary gland involvement, which...
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Metathoracic glands and associated evaporatory structures in Reduvioidea (Heteroptera: Cimicomorpha), with observation on the mode of function of the metacoxal comb
Magazine article from: European Journal of Entomology; 1/1/2006; ; 700+ words
; ...opening of the Brindley's gland in Reduviidae, but differs...around the metathoracic glands in most Cimicomorpha...metathoracic Brindley's gland (Brindley, 1930; Carayon...with the metathoracic glands, Reduvioidea do not...well-defined scent gland groove (Carayon, 1971...
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Parotid gland malignant melanomas
Magazine article from: Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; 12/1/2000; ; 700+ words
; ...relatively unusual tumors in the parotid gland. The majority of previously reported cases...malignant melanoma involving the parotid gland encountered between 1980 and October 1999...a cutaneous melanoma and the parotid gland melanoma were diagnosed at the same time...
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Parotid gland involvement in sarcoidosis.
Magazine article from: Southern Medical Journal; 2/1/2005; ; 700+ words
; ...with sarcoidosis had parotid gland involvement. Of these subjects...involvement other than the parotid gland was present in 84.6% of the...painless enlargement of the glands bilaterally. Thirty percent...had xerophthalmia. Lacrimal gland involvement was present in 4...
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Ectopic sebaceous glands in the esophagus: A case report and review of literature.(Case Report)
Magazine article from: Saudi Journal of Gastroenterology; 4/1/2008; ; 700+ words
; ...Kumar. Yelagondahally Ectopic sebaceous glands occur rarely in the esophagus. A 65...Microscopically, they proved to be sebaceous glands in the esophagus. Histogenesis of this...discussed in this case report. Sebaceous glands are derived from the ectoderm. Ectopic...
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Quantitative salivary gland scintigraphy
Magazine article from: Journal of Nuclear Medicine Technology; 3/1/1999; ; 700+ words
; ...pertechnetate in salivary glands reflects intact salivary gland parenchyma. However...radioprotective drugs on salivary glands. Salivary gland scintigraphy is easy...pertechnetate in salivary glands reflects intact salivary gland parenchyma. The major...
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Parathyroid gland involvement by papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland
Magazine article from: Archives of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine; 12/1/2002; ; 700+ words
; ...size of the parathyroid gland on glass slides and confirmed...examined parathyroid glands histologically. We also...into the parathyroid gland as an expansive growth...cancer nests and the glands (pattern B, Figure...within the parathyroid gland without continuation...
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Histopathology of submandibular glands removed for sialolithiasis
Magazine article from: The Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology; 5/1/2001; ; 700+ words
; ...severely damaged glands. The only clinical...to submandibular gland resection appears...for submandibular gland resection for sialolithiasis...function of salivary glands with sialolithiasis...their submandibular glands for sialolithiasis...for submandibular gland removal was 1) ...
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Unilateral submandibular gland aplasia: a rare phenomenon.(IMAGING CLINIC)(Disease/Disorder overview)
Magazine article from: Ear, Nose and Throat Journal; 3/1/2009; ; 700+ words
; ...of a salivary gland is a very uncommon...The salivary glands arise as a result...mesenchyme divides the glands into lobules and envelops the gland to form a capsule...submandibular gland. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol...The salivary glands: Anatomy and...
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Salivary gland myoepithelioma with focal capsular invasion.(ORIGINAL ARTICLE)(Clinical report)
Magazine article from: Ear, Nose and Throat Journal; 7/1/2009; ; 700+ words
; ...benign or malignant, develop in the major salivary glands: 50% in the parotid gland, 33% in the sublingual gland, and 13% in the submandibular gland. (8) Outside the salivary glands, benign and malignant myoepitheliomas have been reported...
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Salivary Gland Tumors
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
...Definition A salivary gland tumor is an uncontrolled...saliva-producing glands in the mouth. Description...grow in the parotid glands are benign, or not...are in a parotid gland. One in 10 diagnosed...in a submandibular gland. The remaining 10...in other salivary glands. In general, ...
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Exocrine Glands
Encyclopedia entry from: The Gale Encyclopedia of Science
...tissue to which the glands are attached. Gland cells communicate with...compounc ” gland. The secretory portions of simple glands can be straight tubular...merocrine (or eccrine) glands. Here, the gland cells produce their...
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Glands
Encyclopedia entry from: The Gale Encyclopedia of Science
...into the duodenum. Other endocrine glands include the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands, the testes and the ovaries, the thymus gland, and the pituitary gland. Other exocrine glands include the lachrymal glands, which...
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Salivary Gland Scan
Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, 3rd ed.
Salivary Gland Scan Definition A salivary gland scan is a nuclear medicine...secretion in the salivary glands of a radioactively labeled...secretion shows if these glands are functioning normally. Purpose A salivary gland scan is done to help...
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gland
Book article from: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition
...chemical substances. A gland may vary from a single...duct. The endocrine glands, e.g., the thyroid...as in the sebaceous glands of the skin and the digestive glands of the intestinal mucosa. A simple exocrine gland may consist only of...
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