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Glite Dictionary
internal secretion

internal secretion

1 6.6
A chemical made by a gland that enters the blood and affects certain parts of the body
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : secreción interna
  • The internal secretion produced by the thyroid gland is crucial for metabolism.

Examples

  • The body produces internal secretion that regulates metabolism.

  • Insulin is an important internal secretion of the pancreas.

  • Damage to the thyroid affects its internal secretion, which can lead to health issues.

  • Insulin is an example of an internal secretion that regulates blood sugar levels.

  • The adrenal glands are responsible for the internal secretion of important hormones like adrenaline.

  • Banting and Best discovered that the internal secretion from the pancreas regulates blood sugar levels.

  • Hormones are a type of internal secretion that influences various bodily functions.

Synonyms

hormone
vsinternal secretion
  • Specialized
287 3.5

A chemical made by glands that travels in the blood to affect body parts

is produced specifically by endocrine glands and sent straight into the bloodstream
secretion
vsinternal secretion
  • Specialized
17 4.8

A substance made by a gland or cell and released to do a job in the body

is released specifically into the bloodstream by endocrine glands to target tissues

Surface Forms

internal secretion singular
internal secretions plural

Morphology

internal + secretion

The noun phrase is compositionally transparent: 'internal' (located within the body) modifies 'secretion' (material discharged by a gland), so the overall meaning — a substance produced within the body and released by glands — is directly derivable from the parts. This follows a regular adjective+noun pattern common across languages; although somewhat technical, a B1 learner who knows both constituents can infer the intended concept.

Etymology

Internal secretion comes from the simple image of glands inside the body secretly sending out a substance: internal means inside the body and secretion means something sent out. Picture tiny factories pouring a chemical into the blood to send a message to other parts, so the term means a substance glands release into the bloodstream to 'act on' other tissues.