What is the pineal body? Detailed answer

BIG ENCYCLOPEDIA FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Free library / Directory / Big encyclopedia for children and adults

What is the pineal body? Detailed answer

Big encyclopedia for children and adults

Directory / Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education

Did you know?

What is the pineal body?

There are organs in the body that produce certain substances. These organs are called glands. Usually the word "gland" refers to the glands of the endocrine system or endocrine glands. These glands produce substances that do not pass through some vessels, but go directly into the blood. These substances are called hormones.

Hormones are chemical messages that are carried by the blood stream and affect all parts of the body. There are many glands in the body that produce these substances. The major glands of the body are: thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, pineal, pituitary, adrenals, gonads, and parts of the pancreas.

Thus, we have seen that the pineal gland is one of the endocrine glands and is considered part of the endocrine system. Yet we don't know what hormone the pineal gland produces. This is a rather mysterious, small-sized organ. The pineal gland is no larger than a small tablet and is located in the center of the brain, near the top of the head.

Ancient physicians believed that because of its location, the pineal gland is related to the process of thinking. Some authors were of the opinion that this may be what remains of the "third eye" that humans once had, like reptiles. In our time, it is generally accepted that this gland produces substances such as hormones or affects the work of other glands of the endocrine system. For example, this gland is very close to the pituitary gland and may have some effect on its functioning.

Author: Likum A.

Random interesting fact from the Great Encyclopedia:

What does language do?

The tongue is at the same time one of the most amazing muscles and one of the organs of our body. It is the only muscle that attaches on only one side. Therefore, the tongue can move in a way that no other muscle can, which is essential for some of the functions it performs.

When we speak and produce a wide variety of sounds, the tongue assumes different positions and shapes, allowing us to produce sounds. Try pronouncing the entire alphabet slowly, and you will notice that when you pronounce different sounds, the tongue occupies a different position. The mucous membrane that covers the surface of the tongue is involved in taking, holding and chewing food. The surface of the tongue is a combination of graters, rollers, washboards, brushes, rakes and points that affect the food we eat.

The tongue is also one of the most subtle organs in terms of touch. It constantly informs us about the changes taking place in the mouth and sends messages to the central nervous system regarding what we eat and drink. And finally, there are taste buds on the tongue. The surface of the tongue is covered with small bumps, which look like tiny warts, on the walls of these bumps, which are called nipples, there are taste buds.

Humans have approximately 3000 taste buds. A cow has about 35 thousand of them, and a whale has very few or none at all. Their number depends on the taste needs of the animal. Human taste buds are able to detect three different taste sensations: sweet, salty and bitter. They can also distinguish sour, but this may be a combination of the other three.

Different parts of the tongue are sensitive to different tastes. The back is more sensitive to bitter, its sides are more sensitive to sour and salty, and the tip of the tongue recognizes sweet.

Test your knowledge! Did you know...

▪ How was the telephone invented?

▪ Who was America named after?

▪ Which bird has been named by at least four different states?

See other articles Section Big encyclopedia. Questions for quiz and self-education.

Read and write useful comments on this article.

<< Back

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

Machine for thinning flowers in gardens 02.05.2024

In modern agriculture, technological progress is developing aimed at increasing the efficiency of plant care processes. The innovative Florix flower thinning machine was presented in Italy, designed to optimize the harvesting stage. This tool is equipped with mobile arms, allowing it to be easily adapted to the needs of the garden. The operator can adjust the speed of the thin wires by controlling them from the tractor cab using a joystick. This approach significantly increases the efficiency of the flower thinning process, providing the possibility of individual adjustment to the specific conditions of the garden, as well as the variety and type of fruit grown in it. After testing the Florix machine for two years on various types of fruit, the results were very encouraging. Farmers such as Filiberto Montanari, who has used a Florix machine for several years, have reported a significant reduction in the time and labor required to thin flowers. ... >>

Advanced Infrared Microscope 02.05.2024

Microscopes play an important role in scientific research, allowing scientists to delve into structures and processes invisible to the eye. However, various microscopy methods have their limitations, and among them was the limitation of resolution when using the infrared range. But the latest achievements of Japanese researchers from the University of Tokyo open up new prospects for studying the microworld. Scientists from the University of Tokyo have unveiled a new microscope that will revolutionize the capabilities of infrared microscopy. This advanced instrument allows you to see the internal structures of living bacteria with amazing clarity on the nanometer scale. Typically, mid-infrared microscopes are limited by low resolution, but the latest development from Japanese researchers overcomes these limitations. According to scientists, the developed microscope allows creating images with a resolution of up to 120 nanometers, which is 30 times higher than the resolution of traditional microscopes. ... >>

Air trap for insects 01.05.2024

Agriculture is one of the key sectors of the economy, and pest control is an integral part of this process. A team of scientists from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Potato Research Institute (ICAR-CPRI), Shimla, has come up with an innovative solution to this problem - a wind-powered insect air trap. This device addresses the shortcomings of traditional pest control methods by providing real-time insect population data. The trap is powered entirely by wind energy, making it an environmentally friendly solution that requires no power. Its unique design allows monitoring of both harmful and beneficial insects, providing a complete overview of the population in any agricultural area. “By assessing target pests at the right time, we can take necessary measures to control both pests and diseases,” says Kapil ... >>

Random news from the Archive

Translator for the language of touch 08.12.2004

The German company "ABTIM" has developed in cooperation with the University of Wuppertal a portable device that allows the blind to read.

It consists of a miniature television camera, which is placed on a book, magazine or cell phone screen, and a computer unit. In this block, the image of letters, symbols or pictures is converted into signals that push 4 pegs out of the 4x256 cm panel, exactly repeating the outlines of the image received from the camera. Feeling the panel with his hand, the blind can read letters and symbols or "look" at pictures.

While the device is quite large (the size of a solid book) and expensive. But engineers are working to improve it. In particular, the next version, instead of showing enlarged outlines of letters, will translate letters into Braille characters.

Other interesting news:

▪ video surveillance exam

▪ Smallest black hole discovered

▪ continents will ever merge

▪ One dollar AI processor

▪ Ultrasonic tweezers move living cells

News feed of science and technology, new electronics

Interesting materials of the Free Technical Library:

▪ section of the site Assembling the Rubik's Cube. Article selection

▪ article Am I a king or not a king? Popular expression

▪ article The most decorated regiment in the history of the United States was composed of soldiers of what nationality? Detailed answer

▪ Palatka article. Tourist tips

▪ article Prefix - capacitance meter. Encyclopedia of radio electronics and electrical engineering

▪ article Egg from nowhere. Focus Secret

Leave your comment on this article:

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews