Biology · Chemical Coordination and Integration · NEET
NCERT names eight organized endocrine glands: pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, adrenal, pancreas and gonads (testis in males, ovary in females). But the endocrine system is bigger than these eight, because NCERT also says some other organs make hormones even though they are not glands. So do not answer with a single fixed number in the exam. Say eight organized glands plus hormone-producing tissues.
The heart is not one of the organized endocrine glands, but the atrial wall of the heart does secrete a hormone called atrial natriuretic factor (ANF). ANF lowers blood pressure by causing blood vessels to widen. So the heart is a hormone-producing tissue, not a classic gland. NEET tests this exact point in matching questions, so remember Heart = ANF.
NCERT lists three extra hormone-producing tissues: the heart (makes ANF), the kidney (makes erythropoietin, which triggers red blood cell formation), and the gastro-intestinal tract (makes gastrin, secretin, cholecystokinin and GIP). These are called diffused or scattered endocrine tissues because the cells are spread out, not packed into one gland.
The pituitary gland is often called the master gland because its hormones control several other endocrine glands, like the thyroid, adrenal cortex and gonads. But the pituitary itself is controlled by the hypothalamus above it. So the hypothalamus is the true top of the chain. In NEET, if the question asks the master gland, the answer is pituitary; if it asks what controls the pituitary, the answer is hypothalamus.
Organized endocrine glands are compact, separate glands whose only or main job is to make hormones, like the thyroid or adrenal. Diffused endocrine tissue is hormone-making cells scattered inside an organ that has another main job, like the heart, kidney and gut. Both belong to the endocrine system, but only the organized glands are counted in the classic list of eight.
Match List-I with List-II. List-I: A. Heart B. Kidney C. Gastro-intestinal tract D. Adrenal Cortex; List-II: I. Erythropoietin II. Aldosterone III. Atrial natriuretic factor IV. Secretin. Choose the correct answer.
Match List I with List II. List I (Hormone): A. CCK B. GIP C. ANF D. ADH; List II (Source): I. Kidney II. Heart III. Gastric gland IV. Pancreas. Choose the correct answer.
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
Pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, adrenal, pancreas and gonads (testis or ovary). These are the compact glands whose job is to make hormones.
The pancreas is both. Its islets of Langerhans make hormones (insulin, glucagon) so it is endocrine, and its acinar cells make digestive enzymes through a duct so it is exocrine. This makes it a mixed or heterocrine gland.
The pituitary is the master gland because it controls other glands. The hypothalamus controls the pituitary, so the hypothalamus sits above it in the chain.
Yes. They are hormone-producing tissues, not classic glands. Heart makes ANF, kidney makes erythropoietin and renin, and the gut makes gastrin, secretin, CCK and GIP.
Almost every year NEET asks match-the-column questions linking a gland or organ to its hormone. A clear overview map lets you solve these fast without confusing sources.
