pineal gland

Pineal gland — Diagram of pituitary and pineal glands in the human brain Latin glandula pinealis Gray s …   Wikipedia

Pineal gland — Pineal Pi ne*al, a. [L. pinea the cone of a pine, from pineus of the pine, from pinus a pine: cf. F. pin[ e]ale.] Of or pertaining to a pine cone; resembling a pine cone. [1913 Webster] {Pineal gland} (Anat.), a glandlike body in the roof of the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

pineal gland — a small, cone shaped endocrine organ in the posterior forebrain, secreting melatonin and involved in biorhythms and gonadal development. Also called epiphysis. See diag. under brain. [1705 15] * * * or pineal body Endocrine gland in the brain… …   Universalium

Pineal gland — A small gland located deep within in the brain. It is believed to secrete melatonin, and may therefore be part of the body’s sleep regulation apparatus. * * * pineal gland n a small body that arises from the roof of the third ventricle and is… …   Medical dictionary

pineal gland — pineal body a pea sized mass of nerve tissue attached by a stalk to the posterior wall of the third ventricle of the brain, deep between the cerebral hemispheres at the back of the skull. It functions as a gland, secreting the hormone melatonin.… …   The new mediacal dictionary

pineal gland — noun a small endocrine gland in the brain; situated beneath the back part of the corpus callosum; secretes melatonin • Syn: ↑pineal body, ↑epiphysis cerebri, ↑epiphysis • Hypernyms: ↑endocrine gland, ↑endocrine, ↑ductless gland …   Useful english dictionary

pineal gland — [ pɪnɪəl, pʌɪ ] (also pineal body) noun a pea sized conical mass of tissue behind the third ventricle of the brain, secreting a hormone like substance in some mammals. Origin C17: from Fr. pinéal, from L. pinea pine cone (with ref. to the shape… …   English new terms dictionary

pineal gland — noun Date: 1712 a small usually conical appendage of the brain of all craniate vertebrates that functions primarily as an endocrine organ and that in a few reptiles has the essential structure of an eye called also pineal, pineal body, pineal… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

pineal gland — noun /pʌɪˈniːəl ˌɡland/ A small, pinecone shaped endocrine gland found near the centre of the brain that produces melatonin. Syn: epiphysis, pineal body …   Wiktionary

pineal gland — /ˈpɪniəl glænd/ (say pineeuhl gland) noun an endocrine organ located in the midbrain, which secretes the hormone melatonin; epiphysis. Also, pineal body …   Australian English dictionary

pineal gland — A tiny organ in the cerebrum that produces melatonin. Also called pineal body or pineal organ …   English dictionary of cancer terms