Pineal

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Pineal Gland

The Pineal Gland (pronounced: /ˈpiːnɪəl/ or /ˈpaɪnɪəl/), also known as the pineal body, conarium or epiphysis cerebri, is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. The name is derived from the shape of the gland, which resembles a pine cone (from Latin pinea, which means "pine cone").

Function

The Pineal Gland produces and regulates some hormones, including melatonin. Melatonin is a hormone that modulates sleep patterns in both circadian and seasonal cycles.

Anatomy

The Pineal Gland is a small, pinecone-shaped gland of the endocrine system. It is located in the epithalamus, near the center of the brain, between the two hemispheres, tucked in a groove where the two halves of the thalamus join.

History

The Pineal Gland has been a subject of interest and debate for more than two millennia. The philosopher Rene Descartes (1596–1650) dedicated much time to the study of the pineal gland, which he believed to be the principal seat of the soul.

Related Terms

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski