adrenal glands

Meaning

1. 1nounpluralbiologymedical

   Two small hormone-producing organs, one sitting on top of each kidney, that release substances such as adrenaline and cortisol.

   Grammar: Normally plural with a plural verb: the adrenal glands produce hormones.

   Patterns

   • the adrenal glands release something

   The adrenal glands release adrenaline when you feel frightened.

   A tumor on one of the adrenal glands can cause high blood pressure.

   Students labeled the kidneys and adrenal glands on the diagram.

Word forms

Common combinations

adrenal glands produce

The adrenal glands produce hormones that control stress responses.

stimulate the adrenal glands

Fear can stimulate the adrenal glands within seconds.

underactive adrenal glands

Underactive adrenal glands may leave a patient exhausted.

adrenal glands disorder

The doctor tested her for an adrenal glands disorder.

remove the adrenal glands

Surgeons had to remove the adrenal glands of the dog.

Synonyms and how they differ

suprarenal glands

Suprarenal glands is an older, more technical name for the same organs and is mostly found in medical texts.

adrenals

Adrenals is a casual shortened form used by patients and doctors when talking about the same organs.

Word family

adrenal adjective

relating to the adrenal glands

adrenaline noun

the hormone released by the adrenal glands in stress

adrenal cortex noun

the outer layer of the gland

adrenal medulla noun

the inner part that makes adrenaline

Commonly confused: adrenal glands or thyroid gland?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “adrenal glands”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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