adrenal

American  

[uh-dreen-l] / əˈdrin l /

adjective

1. of or produced by the adrenal glands.

2. situated near or on the kidneys; suprarenal.

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noun

1. adrenal gland.

adrenal British  

/ əˈdriːnəl /

adjective

1. on or near the kidneys

2. of or relating to the adrenal glands or their secretions

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noun

1. an adrenal gland

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• adrenally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of adrenal

1870–75; ad- + Latin rēn- (stem of rēnēs kidneys) + -al ¹

Explanation

The adjective adrenal describes something near the kidneys. The adrenal glands control the release of stress hormones in the body. Adrenal is a scientific term describing a pair of endocrine glands that sit at the top of the kidneys in the human body. These glands control the way the kidneys work, as well as affecting stress hormones like adrenaline. The word adrenal, "of or near the kidneys," comes from Latin roots: ad-, "at or near," and renes, "kidneys."