What is the term for a gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream?

• A. Exocrine gland
• B. Endocrine gland
• C. Glandular tissue
• D. Secretory gland

Answer: (B)

Endocrine glands are the ones that release hormones directly into the bloodstream. Hormones then travel through the blood to reach target organs and regulate processes like growth, metabolism, and reproduction. This direct release into the circulatory system is what sets endocrine glands apart from exocrine glands, which secrete their products into ducts that carry substances to a surface or body cavity (for example, digestive enzymes into the gut or sweat onto the skin). Some organs can perform both roles, but the key idea is that endocrine glands discharge hormones into blood, not onto a surface. Glandular tissue is a general term and doesn't specify how secretion occurs, while “secretory gland” isn’t a standard term. So the best term is endocrine gland.