adrenal
pronunciation
How to pronounce adrenal in British English:
UK [æd'ri:nəl]
How to pronounce adrenal in American English:
US [æd'rinəl]
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- Noun:
- either of a pair of complex endocrine glands situated near the kidney
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- Adjective:
- of or pertaining to the adrenal glands or their secretions
- near the kidneys
Word Origin
- adrenal (adj.)
- "of or near the kidneys," 1866, Modern Latin, from ad- + renalis "of the kidneys," from Latin renes "kidneys." Adrenal gland is from 1875.
Example
- 1. Surgeons removed both of her adrenal glands because of damage from the cancer .
- 2. The achievements of our frontal lobes are undermined by the backwardness of our adrenal glands .
- 3. This alarm sends a signal to your adrenal glands to release a surge of stress hormones , including adrenaline and cortisol .
- 4. Crucially , it does so in all testosterone-producing tissues , particularly including the adrenal glands , not just the testes .
- 5. The rise in cortisol / adrenaline stresses the adrenal glands to the point where high cortisol levels damage metabolism .