Have you ever heard of the pineal gland? What is this gland? And what are its functions? In this article, we will learn about this gland and the most important details about it, so read the following lines.

What is the pineal gland?

The pineal gland is a small gland located in the brain, also called the third eye. The functions of this gland are not fully understood, but scientists have concluded that it secretes and regulates some hormones such as melatonin, which has a prominent role in the body’s biological clock and daily sleep patterns.

The shape of the pineal gland

The pineal gland looks like a pea or a pine cone, and its size is very small, about 0.8 cm, as mentioned in one of the sources, while it weighs 0.1 grams.

where is it?

The pineal gland is located in the middle of the brain between the hemispheres, in an area called the epithalamus, just behind the thalamus and above the cerebellum.

Microscopically, this gland consists of a specific type of cell called pinealocytes, which are the cells responsible for secreting the hormone melatonin, in addition to another type of cell called glial cells, which are a type of brain cell that supports neurons.

pineal gland function

According to the sources, the pineal gland is the primary gland involved in the body’s circadian rhythms, which are the body’s circadian rhythms, including signals that make a person tired, want to go to sleep, or wake up.

This gland secretes the melatonin hormone, which is responsible for the biological clock, which is produced according to the amount of light that is exposed to it, as the sources indicate that this hormone is secreted in greater quantities in the dark, which indicates its importance for sleep, and for this reason it is called the “third eye”. . However, some research suggests that this hormone’s relationship with sleep is more complex and not so simple.

One source explains that melatonin is an antioxidant that works to protect nerve cells from free radicals that may increase the risk of tissue damage and dysfunction, including cancer and neurodegenerative disease.

Diseases of the pineal gland

The sources indicate that there are some problems with the pineal gland, which are summarized as follows:

• This gland causes calcium deposits to accumulate. It is normal in healthy people, but the excessive accumulation of these deposits affects the function of the gland.
• Hormone levels may be imbalanced In the event that there are problems in this gland, which may affect other systems in the body, for example, the sleep pattern is affected with problems such as insomnia or after jet lag, and the menstrual cycle may be affected in women due to the interference of melatonin With female hormones, which results in some complications.
• Seasonal Affective DisorderAlso known as winter depression, it affects many people in areas where the nights are long.
• Pineal gland cancer: It is a rare disease, and it accounts for 1% of brain cancers, and its early signs include convulsions, vision problems, headaches, memory problems, and vomiting.

How to keep the pineal gland healthy

To maintain the pineal gland, and keep it healthy, there are several important tips to keep in mind, including:

• Avoid excess fluoride.
• Reducing exposure to electromagnetic waves that may affect the gland and reduce melatonin secretion, as indicated by one of the sources, and it is advised to limit common sources of these waves such as mobile phones, televisions, microwaves, and Wi-Fi routers.
• Create a suitable environment for sleep, and avoid exposure to blue light before bedtime, which affects melatonin secretion.
• Exposure to indirect sunlight, as both sunlight and darkness affect melatonin secretion, but direct sunlight should not be seen