adrenal gland

noun

: either of a pair of complex endocrine organs near the anterior medial border of the kidney consisting of a mesodermal cortex that produces glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and androgenic hormones and an ectodermal medulla that produces epinephrine and norepinephrine

called also adrenal, suprarenal gland

Examples of adrenal gland in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What does adrenaline do to the body? Most commonly activated in the hypothalamus area of the brain, adrenaline gets released through neurotransmitters that send a signal down to the adrenal glands, which sit atop each kidney. —Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 8 May 2024

In addition to traditional ADT, there are medications such as docetaxel, a chemotherapy, and other new drugs that can block the production of testosterone by the adrenal glands or cancer cells or stop it by interfering with the activity of androgen receptors. —Marc B. Garnick, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024

As noted earlier, testosterone in the body comes predominantly from the testicles; the adrenal glands also produce a small amount. —Marc B. Garnick, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024

Sleep apnea, kidney disease, and adrenal gland disorders may be found after following up on a high blood pressure diagnosis. —Rachel Murphy, Verywell Health, 14 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

adrenal gland

noun

: either of a pair of endocrine glands that are located near the kidney and produce the hormone epinephrine

Medical Definition

adrenal gland

noun

: either of a pair of complex endocrine organs near the anterior medial border of the kidney consisting of a mesodermal cortex that produces glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and androgenic hormones and an ectodermal medulla that produces epinephrine and norepinephrine

called also adrenal, suprarenal gland