| 释义 |
pineal gland
noun[ Cusually singular ]
anatomy specializeduk /ˈpɪn.i.əl ˌɡlænd/ us /ˈpɪn.i.əl ˌɡlænd/
a small organ in the brain that produces a hormone called melatonin(= a chemical that produces changes in skin colour in some animals and is involved in controlling sleep patterns):
Darkness causes the pineal gland in the brain to secrete the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.
Many different tumours can arise near the pineal gland, a gland which helps control sleep and wake cycles.
Mammals keep track of day length using the pineal gland, which also regulates their bodies' circadian rhythm.
Produced naturally by the pineal gland, melatonin dictates our sleep patterns.
Melatonin is produced in all cells, including mitochondria, not just in pineal glands.
SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
Glands in the human body
acinar
acinus
adenohypophysis
adrenal
adrenal cortex
endocrinal
endocrine gland
endocrinologic
endocrinological
exocrine gland
neuroendocrinologist
neuroendocrinology
neurohypophyseal
neurohypophysis
oil gland
prostatic
pyloric gland
sebaceous gland
suprarenal gland
sweat gland
Synonym
pineal
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