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endocrine glands
ductless organs or groups of cells that secrete regulatory substances (hormones) and release them directly into the circulation. The endocrine system and the nervous system are the two major control systems of the body, and their functions are interrelated. Hormonal activity is mostly concerned
with regulating metabolic activities by controlling the rates at which chemical reactions take place within cells, the transport
of substances across the cell membrane, and activities related to growth and reproduction. The major endocrine glands are
the hypothalamus; the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands; the alpha and beta cells of the pancreas; and the gonads (ovaries and testes).

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