gruczo

Gruczoł, in Polish commonly written as gruczoł and more correctly as gruczoł, is an organ that produces and secretes substances essential for the body's functioning. The term gruczoł may appear in medical or biological texts, and gruczo is sometimes encountered as a shorthand or a misspelling of gruczoł.

Glands are typically classified as exocrine, endocrine, or mixed. Exocrine glands release their secretions through ducts to an external surface or into a body lumen (for example, salivary glands, sweat glands, and mammary glands). Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream (for example, the thyroid, pituitary, and adrenal glands). Mixed glands have both functions, producing secretions that reach ducts as well as hormones that enter the circulatory system (for example, the pancreas and gonads).

Structurally, glands consist of secretory units formed by glandular epithelial cells, supported by connective tissue and, in exocrine glands, a duct system. Secretions can be serous (watery), mucous, or a mixture of both. Blood vessels supply glands to remove secretions and to deliver regulatory signals, while nerves can modulate the rate and type of secretion.

Development and function: glands arise from epithelial tissue; exocrine glands develop ducts, whereas many endocrine glands are ductless and highly vascularized. Glands regulate metabolism, digestion, temperature, immune responses, and other physiological processes through their secretions.

Clinical notes: gland-related disorders include hypo- or hypersecretion, obstruction, inflammation, and neoplasms. Examples include thyroid imbalances, pancreatic insufficiency, salivary gland infections, and glandular cancers. Diagnosis relies on imaging, hormonal assays, and histology; treatment ranges from replacement therapy to surgery and pharmacological management.

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