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Difference Between Endocrine and Exocrine Glands

Last Updated : 6 Dec, 2025

Endocrine and Exocrine glands are two types of glands present in the human body. The major difference between exocrine and endocrine is their mode of secretion. Other than these two, there is another gland present, which is known as the Heterocrine gland. It is a mixture of endocrine and exocrine glands.


Endocrine vs Exocrine glands are given in the table below:

Endocrine lands

Exocrine Glands

Pour their secretions directly into the blood, hence called the Ductless gland.

  • Have ducts to pour their secretions
  • Hypothalamus,
  • Pituitary Gland,
  • Pineal Gland,
  • Thyroid Gland,
  • Parathyroid Gland,
  • Adrenal Gland,
  • Thymus glands,
  • Pancreas (Islet of Langerhans),
  • Gonads (Ovary and Testis)
  • Sweat glands,
  • Salivary glands,
  • Sebaceous glands,
  • Lacrimal glands,
  • Mammary glands,
  • Gastric glands,
  • Intestinal glands,
  • Pancreas (exocrine part)

Hormones

  • Enzymes, mucus, sweat, saliva, digestive juices, etc.

Regulate body functions such as

  • growth,
  • metabolism,
  • reproduction,
  • homeostasis.
  • Facilitate digestion,
  • lubrication,
  • protection,
  • temperature regulation, and other specific functions.

Distributed throughout the body

  • Located in specific regions or organs

Endocrine Glands

Endocrine glands are those glands that pour their secretions directly into the blood without using ducts. Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Adrenal, and Thymus glands are all examples of endocrine glands.

Secretions of endocrine glands-

Endocrine Gland

Secretion

Hypothalamus

  • Vasopressin,
  • Oxytocin,
  • Releasing hormones,
  • Inhibiting hormones

Pituitary gland

  • Growth hormone,
  • Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH),
  • Adrenal corticotropic hormone (ACTH),
  • Prolactin,
  • Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
  • Luteinizing hormone (LH),
  • Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)

Pineal gland

  • Melatonin

Thymus gland

  • Thymosin hormone

Pancreas

  • Glucagon,
  • Insulin,
  • Somatostatin

Thyroid gland

  • Thyroxin hormone,
  • Thyrocalcitonin hormone

Parathyroid gland

  • Parathormone (PTH)

Adrenal glands

  • Aldosterone,
  • Cortisol,
  • Sex corticoids

Gonads

  • Ovary: Oestrogen;
  • Testis: Testosterone

Exocrine Glands

Exocrine glands are those glands that have ducts to pour their secretions. Sweat glands, Salivary glands, Sebaceous glands, Lacrimal glands, Mammary glands, and Gastric and Intestinal glands are examples of exocrine glands.

Secretions of exocrine glands:

Exocrine GlandSecretion

Sweat glands

Sweat

Sebaceous glands

Sebum

Salivary glands

Saliva

Lacrimal glands

Tears

Mammary glands

Milk

Gastric glands

Enzymes for digestion

Intestinal glands

Intestinal juices

Pancreas

Pancreatic juices

Ovary

Ova

Testis

Sperm

Heterocrine Glands

Heterocrine glands are a mixture of endocrine and exocrine glands. They pour some of their secretions using ducts and some secretions without using ducts.

Secretions of Exocrine glands:

Endocrine Gland

Secretion

Pancreas

Pancreatic juices (via ducts), Insulin, Glucagon, Somatostatin hormones

Gonads

Ova (Ovary), Sperm (Testis), Sex hormones

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