Exocrine Glands vs. Endocrine Glands

Main Difference

While growing up when a kid approaches towards the puberty, the changes in the body can be clearly noticed. In males, facial hair develops, the voice gets deeper, and the shoulders get broader, on the other hand, symptoms like the growth of breasts and onset of the monthly menstrual cycle are observed in the females stepping towards their puberty. This change coming in the body comes due to the specific secretions made by the glands in an individual. Glands are the specialized organs or collection of cells that releases chemicals known as hormones. Mainly there are two types of glands; endocrine glands and exocrine glands. The endocrine glands are the type of glands that are ductless and release hormones into the blood or the tissues nearby the targeted area, whereas the exocrine glands are the type of glands that carries hormones in the ducts and releases it outside the body or on the external environment.

Difference Between Exocrine Glands and Endocrine Glands

Comparison Chart

What are Exocrine Glands?

Exocrine glands are the specialized type of glands, which are associated with having ducts. The hormones being released by these glands are carried in a duct and are directly released outside the body or the external environment. The secretion of hormones by the exocrine glands can either be direct to that specific organ or the external body. For example salivary, sweat and digestive are the exocrine glands as they are released from the surface through the ducts. The salivary glands secrete saliva directly onto the surface of the mouth, on the other hand, in the digestive process the secretion of pancreatic juice only happens on the surface of the intestine, where the process of digestion has to happen. As the hormonal secretion is done directly onto the surface, the response time of exocrine glands is less than that of endocrine glands. At the same time, they have an effect for a shorter duration as compared to the endocrine as the secretion doesn’t pass through the kidney, so there is no re-absorption of that secretion.

What are Endocrine Glands?

Endocrine glands are the specialized type of glands that are ductless, the secretion of hormones are made in the bloodstream or the tissues nearby the targeted area. As they have no ducts and secretions are made in the blood, it has the more response time as the hormone released has to travel through the blood and then has to reach the targeted area. Although, the endocrine glands have more the duration of action as the blood including the hormones passes through the kidneys for the process of filtration. At the same time, the process of reabsorption of that material takes place in the kidneys, and it gets again transported to the targeted site in the next blood flows. The main glands of the endocrine system are a pineal gland, pituitary gland, ovaries, testes, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, hypothalamus and adrenal glands.