Pineal body

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Pineal Body

The Pineal Body (pronunciation: /ˈpaɪniəl/), also known as the Pineal Gland or Epiphysis Cerebri, is a small endocrine gland in the vertebrate brain. The name is derived from the shape of the gland, which resembles a pine cone (from Latin pinea, meaning "pine cone").

Function

The Pineal Gland produces and regulates some hormones, including melatonin. Melatonin is a serotonin-derived hormone which modulates sleep patterns in both circadian and seasonal cycles.

Anatomy

The Pineal Body is located in the epithalamus, near the center of the brain, between the two hemispheres, tucked in a groove where the two halves of the thalamus join.

Related Terms

  • Melatonin: A hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.
  • Endocrine System: The collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood, among other things.
  • Thalamus: Either of two masses of gray matter lying between the cerebral hemispheres on either side of the third ventricle, relaying sensory information and acting as a center for pain perception.
  • Epithalamus: A part of the diencephalon, forming the roof of the third ventricle. It includes the habenula and its interconnecting fibers, the stria medullaris, and the pineal body.

External links

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