pineal gland

American  

noun

1. a small, cone-shaped endocrine organ in the posterior forebrain, secreting melatonin and involved in biorhythms and gonadal development.

---

pineal gland British  

noun

1. Technical names: epiphysis.   epiphysis cerebri.  a pea-sized organ in the brain, situated beneath the posterior part of the corpus callosum, that secretes melatonin into the bloodstream

---

pineal gland Scientific  

1. A small gland located near the brain and primarily involved in the production and secretion of the hormone melatonin, which regulates circadian rhythms in many animals, including humans.

---

Etymology

Origin of pineal gland

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

Melatonin is a hormone produced by the pineal gland that regulates the body's sleep-wake cycle.

From Science Daily

But in the case of cysts of the pineal gland, there is a large amount of information on the web which prompts patients to seek surgery for minor and often unrelated symptoms.

From BBC

Melatonin is produced naturally in the pineal gland to signal the body that it is time to sleep and regulate its circadian rhythm -- the physiological cycle over a 24-hour period.

From Science Daily

This neurochemical comes from the pineal gland, a petite structure located in the center of the brain that philosopher René Descartes once described as the “seat of the soul” and rational thought.

From Scientific American

Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone produced by the pineal gland, a small structure at the center of the brain.

From Washington Post