You are dissecting a fish in your biology laboratory section. Your teaching assistant points out a long oval structure and tells
you it is an endocrine gland. Which of the following would you then know is a true statement about this structure? A) It secretes a product that is released through a series of ducts.
B) The gland's product will only interact with receptors on the cell membrane.
C) The gland's product is lipid soluble.
D) The gland produces and secretes its product into the blood.
D) The gland produces and secretes its product into the blood.
Explanation:
Endocrine glands are the ductless glands. They do not have ducts to deliver their secretions to the target cells but directly release them into the blood. The secretions of endocrine glands are called hormones. To be an endocrine gland, the mentioned long oval structure should lack ducts and release its hormone/s directly into the blood. For example, the thyroid gland is an endocrine gland and releases its hormone thyroxine directly into the blood to be carried to the target body cells.
