Pineal gland, Biology

Assignment Help:

PINEAL GLAND (EPIPHYSIS CEREBRI) -

  • It develops from the ectoderm of the embryo.
  • The pineal gland is located between the cerebral hemispheres, where it protrudes from the roof of the third ventricle.
  • The pineal gland is a small rounded body which consists of pineal cells and supporting glial cells.

Hormone - Melatonin concentration in the blood appears to flow a diurnal (day-night) cycle as it arises, in the evening and through the night and drops to a low around noon. Because of this light mediated response, the pineal gland may act as a kind of "biological clock" which may produce circadian rhythms (variations following a 24 hour cycle).

  • Melatonin lightens skin colour in certain animals and regulates working of gonads (testes and ovaries).
  • Light falling on the retina of the eye decreases melatonin production, darkness stimulates melatonin synthesis.

                      Girls blind from birth attain puberty earlier than normal, apparently because there is no                             inhibitory effect of melatonin on ovarian function.

  • Serotonin, a neurotransmitter found in other locations in the brain, is also found in the pineal gland. Research evidence is accumulating to support the idea that the pineal gland may be involved in regulating cyclic phenomena in the body.
  • In man the pineal gland starts to calcify at about the time of puberty. Such calcium deposits are called the brain sand.

Related Discussions:- Pineal gland

Objective of nutritional management of hypertension, Q. Objective of nutrit...

Q. Objective of nutritional management of hypertension? The objective of nutritional management of hypertension includes: • To achieve gradual weight loss in overweight and

Show defense mechanism when inflammation fails, Q. What is the defense mech...

Q. What is the defense mechanism that begins to work when inflammation fails to stop an infection? If the inflammatory attack is not sufficient to halt the infectious process t

Organic tricuspid regurgitation, Organic Tricuspid Regurgitation Here ...

Organic Tricuspid Regurgitation Here the valve is anatomically abnormal. Etiology of Organic tricuspid regurgitation: 1) Rheumatic 2) Non rheumatic 1. Infective e

Explain about the lipoproteins, Explain about the Lipoproteins? These a...

Explain about the Lipoproteins? These are the Multicomponent complexes of lipids and proteins that form distinct molecular aggregates. They contain polar and neutral lipids, ch

Osmosis, Consider 100 ml of 10% solute and 10 ml of 50& solute. Which has t...

Consider 100 ml of 10% solute and 10 ml of 50& solute. Which has the greatest concentration of solute? What is the concentration of solute? Which has a greater quantity of solute?

What is normal bone physiology, What is normal bone physiology An insig...

What is normal bone physiology An insight into the normal bone physiology and its adaptation by modeling and remodelling process to functional stresses is also of importance. I

Ciliates - parasitic protozoan, Ciliates - Parasitic Protozoan The onl...

Ciliates - Parasitic Protozoan The only ciliate of medical and veterinary importance is Balantidium coli which inhabit the large intestine of man, apes, monkeys and pigs. B. c

What are the two main morphological patterns of cnidarians, What are the tw...

What are the two main morphological patterns of cnidarians? Concerning locomotion how do these forms differentiate from each other? Morphologically, cnidarians categorize as po

Explain evolutionary relationship among animal groups, Evolutionary relatio...

Evolutionary relationship among various animal groups is depicted in the cladogram given below. P, Q and R respectively shown: a.  Vertebrae, hair and four limbs. b.  B

What is the natural habitat of e.coli, What is the natural habitat of E.col...

What is the natural habitat of E.coli? The E.coli was first recognized in the colon region of large intestine and so it was given the name "coli" (found in colon) they are coli

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd