Gland facts for kids

The leaves of this plant have glands that produce a fragrant oily substance.

A gland is a group of cells in the body which make substances such as hormones. They are in humans and other animals, and in plants.

• If the substance is put directly into the bloodstream, the gland is called endocrine gland.
• If the substance is carried by a duct, the gland is called an exocrine gland. Exocrine ducts empty outside the body, or into cavities inside the body.

Examples of glands in humans are:

• Sweat glands that produce sweat for perspiration.
• The pineal gland in the brain, which produces the hormone melatonin at night.

Images for kids

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  This image shows some of the various possible glandular arrangements. These are the simple tubular, simple branched tubular, simple coiled tubular, simple acinar, and simple branched acinar glands.

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  This image shows some of the various possible glandular arrangements. These are the compound tubular, compound acinar, and compound tubulo-acinar glands.

See also

In Spanish: Glándula para niños