ENDOCRINE GLAND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does endocrine gland mean? 

• ENDOCRINE GLAND (noun)
  The noun ENDOCRINE GLAND has 1 sense:

1. any of the glands of the endocrine system that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream

  Familiarity information: ENDOCRINE GLAND used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ENDOCRINE GLAND (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Any of the glands of the endocrine system that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

ductless gland; endocrine; endocrine gland

Hypernyms ("endocrine gland" is a kind of...):

gland; secreter; secretor; secretory organ (any of various organs that synthesize substances needed by the body and release it through ducts or directly into the bloodstream)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "endocrine gland"):

pars anterior; pars distilis (the anterior part of the anterior pituitary)

gonad; sex gland (a gland in which gametes (sex cells) are produced)

corpus luteum (yellow endocrine tissue that forms in a ruptured Graafian follicle following the release of an ovum; it degenerates after a few days unless pregnancy has begun)

adrenal medulla (the medulla of the adrenal gland; secretes epinephrine)

adrenal cortex (the cortex of the adrenal gland; secretes corticosterone and sex hormones)

islands of Langerhans; isles of Langerhans; islets of Langerhans (cell clusters in the pancreas that form the endocrine part of that organ; secrete insulin and other hormones)

epiphysis; epiphysis cerebri; pineal body; pineal gland (a small endocrine gland in the brain; situated beneath the back part of the corpus callosum; secretes melatonin)

neurohypophysis; pars nervosa; posterior pituitary; posterior pituitary gland (the posterior lobe of the pituitary body; primarily glandular in nature)

pars intermedia (a thin piece of tissue that has become part of the posterior pituitary)

adenohypophysis; anterior pituitary; anterior pituitary gland (the anterior lobe of the pituitary body; primarily glandular in nature)

hypophysis; pituitary; pituitary body; pituitary gland (the master gland of the endocrine system; located at the base of the brain)

thymus; thymus gland (a ductless glandular organ at the base of the neck that produces lymphocytes and aids in producing immunity; atrophies with age)

prostate; prostate gland (a firm partly muscular chestnut sized gland in males at the neck of the urethra; produces a viscid secretion that is the fluid part of semen)

adrenal; adrenal gland; suprarenal gland (either of a pair of complex endocrine glands situated near the kidney)

parathyroid; parathyroid gland (any one of four endocrine glands situated above or within the thyroid gland)

thyroid; thyroid gland (located near the base of the neck)

Holonyms ("endocrine gland" is a part of...):

endocrine system (the system of glands that produce endocrine secretions that help to control bodily metabolic activity)

 Context examples 

A malignant neoplasm affecting the endocrine glands.

(Malignant Endocrine Neoplasm, NCI Thesaurus)

A genetic condition that causes unusual facial features and disorders of the skin, bones, nervous system, eyes, and endocrine glands.

(Basal cell nevus syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

It is one of your endocrine glands, which make hormones.

(Hyperthyroidism, NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)

The major endocrine glands are the pituitary, pineal, thymus, thyroid, adrenal glands, and pancreas.

(Hormones, NIH)

A rare, inherited disorder that affects the endocrine glands and can cause tumors in the parathyroid and pituitary glands and the pancreas.

(MEN1 syndrome, NCI Dictionary)

A rare, genetic disorder that affects the endocrine glands and causes a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid cancer, pheochromocytoma, and parathyroid gland cancer.

(MEN2A, NCI Dictionary)

Pea-sized endocrine gland located at the base of the brain in the pituitary fossa.

(Pituitary gland, NCI Thesaurus)

Oxyphil cells, also known as oncocytes, are found in oncocytomas of the kidney, salivary glands, and endocrine glands.

(Oncocytic Neoplasm, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Two small paired endocrine glands located in the posterior region of the thyroid gland.

(Murine Parathyroid Gland, NCI Thesaurus)

Damage to an endocrine gland during a surgical procedure.

(Intraoperative Endocrine Injury, NCI Thesaurus)