noun
: either of a pair of complex endocrine glands located near the anterior medial border of the kidney and comprising a yellowish lipoid-rich cortex of mesodermal origin and a darker highly vascular medulla of ectodermal origin, the hormone adrenaline being produced by specialized chromaffin cells of the medulla while the cortex forms several hormones significant in control of salt and water balance, sodium and potassium metabolism, and utilization of glucose and certain steroids related to or identical with sex hormones — called also especially in man suprarenal gland