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

Describe the the growth of the plants in the 2 groups, There has not been r...

There has not been rain for several months. A biologist is driving down the highway and notices that a large number of corn fields have corn that is wilted and short. She wonders i

Define beriefly about the phytoestrogens, Define beriefly about the Phytoes...

Define beriefly about the Phytoestrogens? You may be aware of the surging interest in phytoestrogens (PE) especially in connection with osteoporosis. This section briefly discu

Organic compounds, ORGANIC COMPOUNDS - They are substances having bo...

ORGANIC COMPOUNDS - They are substances having both carbon and hydrogen which are commonly biological in origin. Organic compounds can be micromolecules or macromolecules

Prolactin - vertebrates, Normal 0 false false false EN-...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Excretion in roundworm, EXCRETIO N IN ROUNDWORM - In ascaris 4 coelomo...

EXCRETIO N IN ROUNDWORM - In ascaris 4 coelomoducts present, attached to each other by canaliculli in front of controling cell i.e. Rennete cell. Excretion materials are gi

Can you explain the anoxia, Q. What is the anoxia? Anoxia is a situatio...

Q. What is the anoxia? Anoxia is a situation in which there is no available oxygen in the cell without oxygen the respiratory chain stops there is no ATP production the cell do

Who was gregor mendel, Who was Gregor Mendel? Mendel is considered the ...

Who was Gregor Mendel? Mendel is considered the father of Genetics. He was a monk, biologist and botanist born in Austria in 1822 and who died in 1884. During the years 1853 to

Access through the crown-endodontics principles and practice, Access throug...

Access through the crown Advantages : -Allow for better isolation with the rubber dam -Better esthetic anf functioning. -Good coronal seal between visits Limitations : -Proc

What is the limitations of panoramic x-ray, Limitations of Panoramic X-Ray ...

Limitations of Panoramic X-Ray There are certain limitations to panoramic Xrays that you have to be awareof:  The amount of magnification  Fine details of structures arou

Principles of doppler echocardiography, Doppler echocardiogaphy is based on...

Doppler echocardiogaphy is based on  the Doppler effect, which was  described by  the Austrian phy$icist Christian Doppler in  1842. The Doppler effect states that sound frequency

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