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

Give the causative organism of bacillary dysentery, Give the causative orga...

Give the causative organism and symptoms of Bacillary Dysentery • Bacillary dysentery is caused by  Shigella sp. (Shigella sonnei, S. dysenteraei). Incubation period is

Explain of functional property browning and anchor, Explain of Functional p...

Explain of Functional property Browning/Flavour/ Aroma Mode of action  Proteins contribute to browning by reacting with lactose and other reducing sugars present in a form

Sexual reproduction in eukaryotes, Sexual reproduction in Eukaryotes In m...

Sexual reproduction in Eukaryotes In most eukaryotes, especially higher animals, individuals normally exhibit one or two sex phenotypes; female or male. In such species, females

Explain acute renal failure, Explain Acute Renal failure Acute Renal f...

Explain Acute Renal failure Acute Renal failure:  Renal failure associated with burns or other trauma or with sharp infection or obstruction of the urinary tract.

Horse diseases-vesicular stomatitis, Vesicular stomatitis Vesicular stomat...

Vesicular stomatitis Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is an infectious viral disease of horses, cattle and pigs caused by Vesiculovirus of the family Rhabdoviridae and characterized by f

Estimation of protein by availability of amino acids include, Estimation of...

Estimation of protein by Availability of amino acids include? Regeneration of blood and liver constituents includes Liver protein regeneration Blood protein regener

Cover (area occupied) - quantitative characters, Cover (area occupied) - Qu...

Cover (area occupied) - Quantitative Characters Cover or specifically herbage cover refers primarily to the area of ground occupied by the leaves, stems and inflorescence i.e.

Biologyical problem, Ask question #Minimum 100 hhejejhjehjwords accepted#

Ask question #Minimum 100 hhejejhjehjwords accepted#

Define total body potassium (tbk), Define Total Body Potassium (TBK)? ...

Define Total Body Potassium (TBK)? Potassium in the body is an index of body's total cell mass. A gamma counter measures the amount of a type of potassium which is assumed t

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