ENDOCRINE GLAND

Pronunciation (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)

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 gland; endocrine

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"):

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)

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)

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