Endocrine system

The endocrine system is composed of ductless glands and hormone-secreting tissues that maintain homeostasis by releasing hormones directly into the blood.These hormones influence almost every system of the body including growth, metabolism, reproduction, stress response, and fluid-electrolyte balance.The aim of this paper is to review the general anatomy of the endocrine system in an MBBS-oriented manner, covering gross anatomy, microscopic features, embryological development, and applied clinical relevance.A literature-based review method was followed using standard anatomy and histology textbooks along with selected clinical anatomy and surgical studies.The main findings show that endocrine glands share common anatomical characteristics such as rich blood supply and close association with capillary networks, but each gland has a typical structural pattern: thyroid gland shows follicles filled with colloid, parathyroid glands are composed mainly of chief cells arranged in cords, pituitary gland has distinct anterior and posterior parts, and adrenal gland shows cortical zonation with a separate medulla.Developmentally, endocrine organs arise from different germ layers and undergo migration, which explains clinically important variations such as ectopic thyroid tissue and variable parathyroid positions.Knowledge of endocrine anatomy is essential in clinical practice, especially for thyroid and parathyroid surgeries, pituitary lesions, adrenal tumors, and interpretation of endocrine imaging.In conclusion, understanding endocrine anatomy provides the foundation for clinical correlation, surgical safety, and MBBS examination performance.