The pineal gland and thymus gland are important endocrine glands. The pineal gland is located in the brain and produces melatonin, which regulates circadian rhythm and inhibits growth before puberty. The thymus gland is located in the chest and plays a key role in immune function by producing T cells and educating lymphocytes. Both glands are most active during childhood and gradually shrink and become less important later in life.

1. PINEAL GLAND & THYMUS
GLAND
By
Rani I. Gurudasani
M.Pharm

2. PINEAL GLAND
 Pineal Gland is also called as
epiphysis cerebri
 It is small body attached to
the roof of the 3rd ventricle
of the brain
 The shape of the gland
resembles a pine cone

3. PINEAL GLAND
• Gland is 10mm long,
reddish in colour and
surrounded by capsule
• Pineal gland Containing
nerves that connect to the
hypothalamus.
• Gland becomes atrophy
after puberty and calcified
later in life

4. PINEAL GLAND
Functions:
•Secrete the hormone melatonin
•Regulation of Endocrine Functions
•Conversion of Nervous System Signals to
Endocrine Signals
•Causes Feeling of Sleepiness

5. PINEAL GLAND
Function of Melatonin:
•Coordinating circadian rhythm
•It increasing secretion of GnRH and sex
hormones.
•Inhibits growth and development of sex organs
before puberty.

6. THYMUS GLAND
• The thymus gland is a secretory
gland that has an important role
in immune function
• It is specialized organ of the
immune system
• The thymus is a
soft organ located behind the
breastbone and between the
lungs.

7. THYMUS GLAND
• It weighs about 10 to 15 g at
birth and grows until puberty
• The thymus consists of two
lobes joined by areolar tissue.

8. THYMUS GLAND
• The lobes are enclosed by
a fibrous capsule which
dips into their substance,
dividing them into lobules
that consist of an irregular
branching framework of
epithelial cells and
lymphocytes.

9. THYMUS GLAND
• The thymus gland is more
or less triangular in shape.
• The thymus gland is made
up of a patchwork
of epithelial tissue and
lymphatic tissue.

10. THYMUS GLAND
Functions of Thymus Gland:
• Its function is to transform lymphocytes (white blood cells
developed in the bone marrow) into T-cells (cells
developed in the thymus)
• Thymus produces and "educates" T- lymphocytes (T cells)

11. THYMUS GLAND
• The main function of the thymus gland is to
release thymosin hormone that will stimulate
the maturation of T cells.
• Once the T cells have matured, they will migrate
to the lymph nodes which are the stores of
immune cells in the body.

12. THYMUS GLAND
•Thymus gland in performing its immune functions
of discarding harmful waste and identifying
diseased cells to destroy.