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gland |
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glandSpecialized organ of the body that manufactures and secretes enzymes, hormones, or other chemicals. In animals, glands vary in size from small (for example, tear glands) to large (for example, the pancreas), but in plants they are always small, and may consist of a single cell. Some glands discharge their products internally, endocrine glands, and others externally, exocrine glands. Lymph nodes are sometimes wrongly called glands. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Less common sites of involvement are the paranasal sinuses, kidneys, orbits, eyelids, (7) conjunctiva, (8) lacrimal glands, (9) epiglottis, (10) tympanic membrane, (11) and even the median nerve. Gene expression studies have identified sodium iodide symporter transcripts in the thyroid, stomach, salivary glands, lacrimal glands, mammary glands, and ovaries of mice, rats, and humans. Charles Darwin once proposed that tears are the result of an accidental stimulation of the lacrimal glands in response to muscle contractions around the eyes during times of strong emotion. |
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