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Glite Dictionary
adrenal medulla

adrenal medulla

7.2
The inner part of the small gland above each kidney that makes stress hormones like adrenaline
  • noun
  • /əˈdrɛnəl mɪˈdʌlə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : médula adrenal
  • The adrenal medulla releases adrenaline in response to stress.

Examples

  • The adrenal medulla produces hormones that help regulate stress responses.

  • Researchers studied how the adrenal medulla influences blood pressure.

  • Damage to the adrenal medulla can affect hormone levels in the body.

  • Researchers study the adrenal medulla to understand its role in the body's response to stress.

  • The adrenal medulla releases adrenaline in response to stress.

  • Damage to the adrenal medulla can affect hormone levels in the body.

  • Researchers study the adrenal medulla to understand its role in the body's response to stress.

Surface Forms

adrenal medulla singular
adrenal medullae plural

Morphology

adrenal + medulla

The phrase literally combines 'adrenal' (relating to the adrenal gland) with 'medulla' (the inner core), so its meaning as the inner region of the adrenal gland is directly derivable from the constituents. This is a transparent anatomical compound following regular English modifier-head patterns and is paralleled in other languages, making it predictable for a learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Adrenal medulla comes from words meaning 'near the kidney' (adrenal) and 'inner part' (medulla). So it literally names the inner part of the adrenal gland that releases adrenaline when the body feels stress.