noun

epinephrine

ep-ih-NEF-rin/ˌepɪˈnefrɪn/

A hormone also used as a medicine to stimulate the heart and open airways.

An epinephrine injector presses against the outer thigh during emergency treatment.

A tightly framed, foot-end view of emergency epinephrine treatment makes the actual injector-to-outer-thigh contact the dominant shape.

Etymology

epiGreekupon

+nephrGreekkidney

+ineFrenchchemical substance

“Upon” and “kidney,” with a chemical suffix, point to the adrenal glands situated on the kidneys. The name identifies the hormone by that anatomical location rather than by its emergency effects.

In context

Phenomenology Club24:40

we could use a defibrillator or a shot of epinephrine to revive them and let them survive to throw them in an ambulance

The Ethics of Eugenics

More examples

Your body releases epinephrine when you face a sudden threat.
Epinephrine helps open airways during a severe allergic reaction.
She carries an epinephrine injector because of her peanut allergy.

Forms

epinephrine

Similar words

adrenaline: Names the same substance; epinephrine is standard in American medicine.