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pineal body

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.02 sec.

pineal gland

 or pineal body

Endocrine gland in the brain that produces melatonin. It is large in children and begins to shrink at puberty. The gland may play a significant role in sexual maturation, circadian rhythm and sleep induction, and seasonal affective disorder and depression. In animals it is known to play a major role in sexual development, hibernation, and seasonal breeding.


pineal body [′pin·ē·əl ‚bäd·ē]
(anatomy)
An unpaired, elongated, club-shaped, knoblike or threadlike organ attached by a stalk to the roof of the vertebrate forebrain. Also known as conarium; epiphysis.


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The part of the brain known as the pineal body forms a light-sensing organ on the top of the tuatara's head.
 
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