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Article: Adrenal Gland
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- Biology
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Adrenal Gland
The adrenal glands are located on the upper pole of each kidney. In fact, their name designates their location: the prefix
ad
means "adjacent," and
renal
refers to the kidney. In the human body, they are small yellowish glands that weigh about five grams (0.175 ounces) each.
The adrenal gland is actually two organs in one. The outer portion, called the adrenal cortex (
cortex
means "bark," as in the bark of a tree), is about nine-tenths of the gland's total weight. The inner part, called the adrenal medulla (
medulla
means "marrow," as found in the inside of a bone),
is about one-tenth. They are both
endocrine
glands, meaning that they secrete chemical messengers ...