Pineal gland

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.

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pineal gland n a small body that arises from the roof of the third ventricle and is enclosed by the pia mater and that functions primarily as an endocrine gland that produces melatonin called also pineal, pineal body, pineal organ

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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 gland becomes calcified as age progresses, providing a useful landmark in X-rays of the skull. Anatomical name: epiphysis.

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glandula pinealis.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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