ad-

to, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

Forms

ad-
ac- — Used before c in Latin.
af- — Used before f in Latin.
ag- — Used before g in Latin.
al- — Used before l in Latin.
ap- — Used before p in Latin.
ar- — Used before r in Latin.
as- — Used before s in Latin.
at- — Used before t in Latin.

Origin

Reconstructed Proto-Indo-European *ad, ‘to; near.’

Note

Later Latin-based spellings sometimes restored consonants that had disappeared in French.

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adjective / noun

adrenal

uh-DREE-nul/ʌdrˈinʌl/

A hormone-producing gland above a kidney, or relating to it or its hormones.

An adrenal gland sits above each kidney in the diagram.

An isolated anatomical illustration of the two kidneys with their adrenal glands visibly perched above them.

Etymology

adLatinto, toward; addition; sometimes emphasis

+renLatinkidney

+alLatinof, relating to

The pieces describe something near the kidneys. The adjective identifies the hormone-producing glands by their position above the kidneys, rather than by what they secrete.

In context

Dr. Adam Barron MD5:01

Your adrenal glands help maintain blood pressure and sodium balance through hormones like cortisol

LIGHTHEADED or DIZZY, 10 Reasons– Doctor Explains

More examples

The study examined adrenal hormone production.
The doctor reviewed a scan of the adrenals.
The lecture described the adrenal cortex.

Forms

adrenal · adrenals

Similar words

pituitary: The pituitary is a different hormone-producing gland, located beneath the brain.