1. The Anatomy/Physiology of the Gonad, Pineal, and Thymus Glands
By Hayley Stevenson, Alondra Beltran, Giovanni Villegas, Analisa Guzman

2. Gonads: Basic Anatomy/Location
The gonads are considered the primary organs of the reproductive system
These glands produce eggs in females and sperm cells in males
Location
A pair of gonads are found in both female and male reproductive systems
Female gonads are found in the ovaries
Male gonads are found in the testes

3. Gonads: General Function and Secretions
General function of gonads and their secretions
Female gonads secrete estrogen and progesterone
Estrogen introduces secondary sex characteristics at puberty
Maintains and matures the reproductive organs
Progesterone promotes menstrual cycle changes
Male gonads produce testosterone
Introduces secondary sexual characteristics at puberty

4. Gonads: Disease/Abnormalities
Ovarian Diseases and abnormalities
Osteoporosis: Menopause and mood swings
Ovarian Cancer: - Symptoms become noticeable in later stages
Very rare
Ovarian Cysts:
Fluid filled sacs
Can range from the size of a pea to a grapefruit.
Majority of cysts are harmless.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: “Many Cysts” caused by hormone imbalance.

5. Polycystic ovary Ovary with Cyst

6. Gonads: Disease/ abnormalities
Testes diseases and abnormalities
Testicular trauma: -prone to injury
Testicular cancer: -abnormal growth of cells in testicles grow in an uncontrollable rate
Hypogonadism: Gonads do not produce enough testosterone
Epididymitis
inflammation of the epididymis
caused by infection or STD chlamydia

8. Pineal Gland: Basic Anatomy/Location
5-9 mm long; weighs .1 grams
This gland is composed of neuroglial cells, neurons, and pinealocytes
pinealocytes are a type of endocrine cell
Location
located on the back portion of the third cerebral ventricle of the brain

9. Pineal Gland: General Function and Secretions
Functions of the pineal gland and its secretion
secretes melatonin
regulates female reproduction and sexual maturation
controls the body’s internal clock
Not all of the functions of the pineal gland have been discovered yet

10. The Pineal Glands: Disease/Abnormalities
Pineal Disorders
Pineal gland tumors.
seasonal affective disorder Lack or absence of light during winter
Caused by abnormal excretion of Melatonin
person is exposed little light during day or too much light during night
Jet lag

12. Thymus Gland: Basic Anatomy
Tissues
adipose, epithelial/glandular tissue
The thymus is active until puberty,and begins to shrink, and becomes inactive, then turns to fat
two thymic lobes
right/left
composed of septae (divides a cavity/structure into smaller ones)
composed of lobules (small lobes)

13. Thymus Gland: Location
The Thymus gland is located behind your sternum and between your lungs

14. Thymus Gland: General Function and Secretions
The thymus produces thymosin
Thymosin stimulates the development of T-cells
During your childhood, white blood cells called lymphocytes pass through the thymus gland and are turned into T cells
Lymphocytes aid the immune system in fighting disease
The thymus produces all of the lymphocytes before puberty is finished

15. Thymus disease and abnormalities
Thymic Carcinoma
Most aggressive cancer that can develop in this region
Difficult to treat
Typically accompanies an autoimmune disease
Severe Combined immunodeficiency
Develops when a person carries a mutation from birth
Compromises T-Cell regulation and immune system

17. Works Cited
"SEER: Training Gonads." National Cancer Institute. Web. 21 Feb
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Sargis, Robert M. "An Overview of the Thymus." Endocrineweb. 10 July Web. 21 Feb
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Herndon, Jamie. "Thymus Cancer." Healthline. 16 Feb Web. 22 Feb
<
Sargid, Robert M. "An Overview of the Ovaries." Endocrine Web. Web. 21 Feb
<
Singha, Rajib. "Pineal Gland Disorders." Buzzle. 2 Sept Web. 21 Feb
<
"Testicular Disease." WebMD. Web. 22 Feb

18. The End