secretion - a functionally specialized substance (especially one that is not a waste) released from a gland or cell

ACTH, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, adrenocorticotrophin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, adrenocorticotropin, corticotrophin, corticotropin - a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortex

Adrenalin, adrenaline, epinephrin, epinephrine - a catecholamine secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress (trade name Adrenalin); stimulates autonomic nerve action

gastrin - polypeptide hormone secreted by the mucous lining of the stomach; induces the secretion of gastric juice

ghrelin - a hormone produced by stomach cells; "ghrelin is thought to increase feelings of hunger"

glucagon - a hormone secreted by the pancreas; stimulates increases in blood sugar levels in the blood (thus opposing the action of insulin)

gonadotrophic hormone, gonadotrophin, gonadotropic hormone, gonadotropin - hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and placenta; stimulates the gonads and controls reproductive activity

insulin - hormone secreted by the isles of Langerhans in the pancreas; regulates storage of glycogen in the liver and accelerates oxidation of sugar in cells

melatonin - hormone secreted by the pineal gland

neurohormone - a hormone that is released by nerve impulses (e.g., norepinephrine or vasopressin)

oxytocin, Pitocin - hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitocin); stimulates contractions of the uterus and ejection of milk

parathormone, parathyroid hormone - hormone synthesized and released into the blood stream by the parathyroid glands; regulates phosphorus and calcium in the body and functions in neuromuscular excitation and blood clotting

relaxin - hormone secreted by the corpus luteum during the last days of pregnancy; relaxes the pelvic ligaments and prepares the uterus for labor

hypothalamic releasing factor, hypothalamic releasing hormone, releasing factor, releasing hormone, RH - any of several hormones produced in the hypothalamus and carried by a vein to the anterior pituitary gland where they stimulate the release of anterior pituitary hormones; each releasing hormone causes the anterior pituitary to secrete a specific hormone

secretin - peptic hormone produced by the mucous lining of the small intestine; can stimulate secretion by the pancreas and liver

growth hormone, human growth hormone, somatotrophic hormone, somatotrophin, somatotropic hormone, somatotropin, STH - a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland; promotes growth in humans

thymosin - hormone secreted by the thymus; stimulates immunological activity of lymphoid tissue

thyroid hormone - any of several closely related compounds that are produced by the thyroid gland and are active metabolically

ADH, antidiuretic hormone, Pitressin, vasopressin - hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitressin) and also by nerve endings in the hypothalamus; affects blood pressure by stimulating capillary muscles and reduces urine flow by affecting reabsorption of water by kidney tubules

sex hormone, steroid hormone, steroid - any hormone affecting the development and growth of sex organs

adrenosterone - a steroid having androgenic activity; obtained from the cortex of the adrenal gland

glucocorticoid - a steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal cortex of animals; affects functioning of gonads and has anti-inflammatory activity

catecholamine - any of a group of chemicals including epinephrine and norepinephrine that are produced in the medulla of the adrenal gland

melanocyte-stimulating hormone, MSH - a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that controls the degree of pigmentation in melanocytes

thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyrotrophic hormone, thyrotrophin, thyrotropic hormone, thyrotropin, TSH - anterior pituitary hormone that stimulates the function of the thyroid gland

protirelin, thyrotropin-releasing factor, thyrotropin-releasing hormone, TRF, TRH - hormone released by the hypothalamus that controls the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary

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

endocrine system - the system of glands that produce endocrine secretions that help to control bodily metabolic activity

thyroid, thyroid gland - located near the base of the neck

parathyroid, parathyroid gland - any one of four endocrine glands situated above or within the thyroid gland

adrenal, adrenal gland, suprarenal gland - either of a pair of complex endocrine glands situated near the kidney

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

thymus gland, thymus - a ductless glandular organ at the base of the neck that produces lymphocytes and aids in producing immunity; atrophies with age

hypophysis, pituitary, pituitary body, pituitary gland - the master gland of the endocrine system; located at the base of the brain

adenohypophysis, anterior pituitary, anterior pituitary gland - the anterior lobe of the pituitary body; primarily glandular in nature

pars anterior, pars distilis - the anterior part of the anterior pituitary

pars intermedia - a thin piece of tissue that has become part of the posterior pituitary

neurohypophysis, pars nervosa, posterior pituitary, posterior pituitary gland - the posterior lobe of the pituitary body; primarily glandular in nature

epiphysis cerebri, pineal body, pineal gland, epiphysis - a small endocrine gland in the brain; situated beneath the back part of the corpus callosum; secretes melatonin

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

adrenal cortex - the cortex of the adrenal gland; secretes corticosterone and sex hormones

adrenal medulla - the medulla of the adrenal gland; secretes epinephrine

corpus luteum - yellow endocrine tissue that forms in a ruptured Graafian follicle following the release of an ovum

gonad, sex gland - a gland in which gametes (sex cells) are produced