adrenal gland

noun

|Updated on: 16 Jul 2018

Definition of adrenal gland

: 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

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Recent Examples of adrenal gland from the Web

Jessica was diagnosed with stage four neuroblastoma, a cancer most commonly found in the adrenal glands that occurs in young children, just over a year ago.

— sarah schreiber, Good Housekeeping, "[UPDATED]: Jessica Whelan, Whose Photo Helped Spread Awareness for Childhood Cancer, Has Passed Away," 22 Nov. 2016
The team take specimens of brain, spinal cord, lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, spleen, muscle, bone marrow, adrenal glands, thyroid, lymph nodes, genital-tract tissues, foreskin and intestine.

— The Economist, "HIV+ volunteers are bequeathing their organs to a new project," 31 May 2018
Cortisol, a fight-or-flight hormone found in your adrenal glands, is often the culprit.

— brennan kilbane, GQ, "The Least Stressful Way to Get Rid of Stress," 16 May 2018
The tumor was acting like an extra adrenal gland, secreting hormones that prevented him from growing and caused him to sweat profusely, often until his clothes were drenched.

— moises velasquez-manoff, WIRED, "Ketamine Stirs Up Hope—and Controversy—as a Depression Drug," 8 May 2018
His labs have also shown that his DHEA levels are low for his age, so Seebohar supplements with DHEA, a hormone produced by the adrenal gland that’s not available in foods.

— sara angle, Outside Online, "The Supplements Experts Take," 18 Apr. 2018
He was released from the hospital that day after having a cancerous kidney and adrenal gland removed.

— sven berg, idahostatesman, "This Boise Democrat and former KBSU exec has cancer, will retire from Legislature | Idaho Statesman," 16 Mar. 2018
Corticosteroids are drugs that mimic the effects of hormones from your adrenal glands, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

— korin miller, SELF, "6 Things That Can Cause Your Blood Sugar to Spike or Drop," 23 Feb. 2018
If the data is perceived as something that causes angst, the adrenal gland produces a hormonal secretion that results in the release of catecholamines, especially norepinephrine and epinephrine.

— NBC News, "How Impostor Syndrome Is Holding You Back at Work," 26 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'adrenal gland.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.