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

Energy requirement during congestive cardiac failure, Q. Energy requirement...

Q. Energy requirement during congestive cardiac failure? Energy: Composition of the calorie requirements on the basis of body weight is usually not feasible due to the presence

Determine about the open head injuries, Open Head Injuries Open head in...

Open Head Injuries Open head injuries are TBIs in which the skull is penetrated, as in gun shot or missile wounds, or in which fragment of bone penetrate the brain substance. O

Define the miscellaneous applications of sugar, Define the Miscellaneous Ap...

Define the Miscellaneous Applications of Sugar? Sugars are used in 1. Custards, 2. puddings, 3. pie fillings and meringues Depending on the sugar to perform vital c

Role of lymphatic system - circulation, Normal 0 false false ...

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

Crustose lichen stage - xerarch, Crustose Lichen Stage - Xerarch On ba...

Crustose Lichen Stage - Xerarch On bare rocks, conditions are inhospitable for life, as there is extreme deficiency of water and nutrients, great exposure to sun, and extremes

Explain about microbial polysaccharides, Microbial polysaccharides Many...

Microbial polysaccharides Many microorganisms produce polysaccharides that either remain attached to the cell wall (capsular polysaccharides) or are  secreted into the extracel

Classification of coal by rank, Coal can be classified into following categ...

Coal can be classified into following categories in the order of rank. Peat:  peat is a brown and fibrous mass. It is the first stage of coalification. It is not used as

How are living beings divided into two groups, Q. According to the cellular...

Q. According to the cellular organization how are living beings divided into two groups? Cellular beings are divided into two groups, unicellular beings and the prokaryotes who

Which is plant tissues specialized in covering, Which is plant tissues spec...

Which is plant tissues specialized in covering? The dermal tissues or covering tissues of the plants are the epidermis (that covers the leaves and the young stems and shoots) a

Fever, Fever influenza

Fever influenza

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