What are the different kinds of glands and their functions?

Answer 1

• Pineal Gland: This gland is located in the brain. Its proper functioning helps to improve thinking power and intelligence and the whole body gets tenacity and balance. The gland is influenced by Sarvangasana and Shirshasana.
• Pituitary Gland: This gland is located at the place in the brain where the sensory nerves originate. This gland helps in the balanced growth of all the organs. Its proper functioning prevents obesity and general deficiencies of the body. As a result, procreative organs develop properly the appetite increases, the old age does not come so soon and generally diseases do not grip the body. Shirshasana strengthens it.
• Thyroid Gland: It helps keep the balance of all the chemical activities in the body, increases the secretion of digestive juices helps a person gain height and adds to the power of thinking, it is located inside the neck. It helps to increase appetite and to develop the organs of procreation and manliness. It is influenced by Sarvangasana, Halasana, Bhujangasana and Matsyasana.
• Liver: This gland is located on the right side under the ribs in the abdomen. It secretes a brownish green fluid, called bile and distributes the food in the body in a proper way. It helps to prevent abdominal ailments; keeps a balance in the proportions of vaat (wind) pitt (bile) kaph (phlegm); provides heat to the entire body, and helps to remove the impurities from the body. Suryanamaskar, Yogamudra, Paschimottartasana and Ardhamatsyendrasana help it to function more effectively.
• Spleen: This is located in the abdomen near the stomach and is influenced by all the asanas involving sitting posture. It helps in the digestion of food, purifies the blood and produces white corpuscles.
• Pancreas: It is also located in the abdomen near the stomach. It secretes digestive juices. It helps in sending the food elements to all parts of the body, overcomes the sugar deficiency, provides sugar for energy, converts proteins and fats into sugar and controls Diabetes. It also Increases appetite and ensures general activity and strength of the body. It is influenced by Uddiyan Bandh, Nauli Kriya and Ardhamatsyendrasana.
• Adrenal Gland: It is located in the abdomen on the left side under the navel. Its functions include increasing of blood circulation and digestive juices and the contraction of the arteries. It helps to prevent constipation and other stomach ailments. The body becomes light and active by us proper functioning. This gland is particularly influenced by Mayurasana.
• Kidneys: These are two in number and are located on both sides of the vertebral column in the stomach. They purify the blood and produce urine, and thus help in the removal of uric acid from the body. They are specially influenced by Bhujangasana, Dhanurasana and Shalabhasana.
• Testicles: These are located below the penis in the shape of two balls. Secretion of male seminal fluid, development of procreative organs, separation of fats and generation of male voice in males are some of their major functions. Their proper functioning brings about a balance, sobriety, energy and peace. Gorakshasana, Siddhasana and Padmasana help them in their functioning.

Answer 2

Glands in the body can be classified into exocrine glands (secrete substances externally, like sweat glands) and endocrine glands (secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream). Exocrine glands help regulate body temperature and produce substances like saliva or oil. Endocrine glands regulate various bodily functions such as metabolism, growth, and reproduction through hormone secretion.