Compound Gland

A compound gland is a gland or organ of the body whose structure and function is such that it performs more than one activity - its different actions being sufficiently different that it can be classified in more than one way, e.g. as two different types of glands/organs, or because it plays an important role in more than one of the major systems of the body.

One example of a compound gland is the pancreas, because this is both an endocrine (ductless) and an exocrine (ducted) gland. It is also an important part of the both the endocrine system, and the digestive system.

For a diagram indicating the locations within the body of each of the endocrine glands, see more about the endocrine glands of the human body. This information may be of particular interest to students of courses in massage, reflexology, beauty therapies, and other introductory-level medical or clinical courses.