adrenal gland

American  

noun

Anatomy.

• adrenal glands
  plural

1. one of a pair of ductless glands, located above the kidneys, consisting of a cortex, which produces steroidal hormones, and a medulla, which produces epinephrine and norepinephrine.

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adrenal gland British  

noun

1. Also called: suprarenal gland. an endocrine gland at the anterior end of each kidney. Its medulla secretes adrenaline and noradrenaline and its cortex secretes several steroid hormones

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adrenal gland Scientific  

/ ə-drē′nəl /

1. Either of two small endocrine glands, one located above each kidney. The outer portion, or cortex, secretes steroid hormones (corticosteroids). The inner portion, or medulla, secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• adrenal glands
  plural

Etymology

Origin of adrenal gland

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

adrenal gland

Maya, who her mother described as a "larger than life person" who loves animals and music, was first diagnosed with neuroblastoma near her adrenal gland when she was three-years-old.

From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026

Importantly, the unusual hormone patterns disappeared after the affected adrenal gland was surgically removed.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026

“Copenhagen” taps the adrenal gland by keeping viewers off balance about who is who and what is what, beginning with the opening subtitles: President—and former CIA director—George H.W.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 26, 2025

Cushing’s syndrome is sometimes the result of a tumor in the adrenal gland or elsewhere in the brain, requiring surgery.

From New York Times ● Feb. 26, 2024

The physiological effect of DDD is probably unique among insecticides, for it destroys part of the adrenal gland — the cells of the outer layer known as the adrenal cortex, which secretes the hormone cortin.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson