secretion
Other forms: secretions
A secretion is a substance made and released by a living thing, like when your skin sweats.
Secretions don't have to do with secrets, but with secreting: synthesizing and then producing a substance. A machine can't make a secretion — only living things can. Many secretions are harmless, while others are dangerous to other animals. For example, the secretions of some frogs are a type of poison. Some secretions stay within an animal, like the bile secreted by our livers. Saliva is another secretion. The word comes from the Latin root secretionem, "separation."
Definitions of secretion
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the organic process of synthesizing and releasing some substancesynonyms: secernmenttypes:galactosisthe secretion of milkhypersecretionexcessive secretionsalivationthe secretion of salivaptyalismexcessive flow of salivatype of:
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a functionally specialized substance (especially one that is not a waste) released from a gland or celltypes:ganoin, ganoineshiny substance that resemble enamel and is secreted by the corium of certain fishes (especially ganoid fishes) and composes the outer layer of their scaleslachrymal secretion, lacrimal secretionsaline fluid secreted by lacrimal glands; lubricates the surface of the eyeballendocrine, hormone, internal secretionthe secretion of an endocrine gland that is transmitted by the blood to the tissue on which it has a specific effectintestinal juicesecretions by glands lining the walls of the intestinesautacoid, autocoidany physiologically active internal secretion especially one of uncertain classificationsynovia, synovial fluidviscid lubricating fluid secreted by the membrane lining joints and tendon sheaths etc.mucous secretion, mucusprotective secretion of the mucus membranes; in the gut it lubricates the passage of food and protects the epithelial cells; in the nose and throat and lungs it can make it difficult for bacteria to penetrate the body through the epitheliumsaliva, spit, spittlea clear liquid secreted into the mouth by the salivary glands and mucous glands of the mouth; moistens the mouth and starts the digestion of starchessebumthe oily secretion of the sebaceous glands; with perspiration it moistens and protects the skinroyal jellya secretion of the pharyngeal glands of bees that is fed to very young larvae and to bees destined to be queensmuskan odorous glandular secretion from the male musk deer; used as a perfume fixativenectara sweet liquid secretion that is attractive to pollinatorspheromonea chemical substance secreted externally by some animals (especially insects) that influences the physiology or behavior of other animals of the same speciesACTH, adrenocorticotrophic hormone, adrenocorticotrophin, adrenocorticotropic hormone, adrenocorticotropin, corticotrophin, corticotropina hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the adrenal cortexAdrenalin, adrenaline, epinephrin, epinephrinea catecholamine secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress (trade name Adrenalin); stimulates autonomic nerve actionglucagona hormone secreted by the pancreas; stimulates increases in blood sugar levels in the blood (thus opposing the action of insulin)gonadotrophic hormone, gonadotrophin, gonadotropic hormone, gonadotropinhormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland and placenta; stimulates the gonads and controls reproductive activityinsulinhormone secreted by the isles of Langerhans in the pancreas; regulates storage of glycogen in the liver and accelerates oxidation of sugar in cellsmelatoninsleep-regulating hormone secreted by the pineal glandneurohormonea hormone that is released by nerve impulses (e.g., norepinephrine or vasopressin)Pitocin, oxytocinhormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitocin); stimulates contractions of the uterus and ejection of milkparathormone, parathyroid hormonehormone synthesized and released into the blood stream by the parathyroid glands; regulates phosphorus and calcium in the body and functions in neuromuscular excitation and blood clottingrelaxinhormone secreted by the corpus luteum during the last days of pregnancy; relaxes the pelvic ligaments and prepares the uterus for laborRH, hypothalamic releasing factor, hypothalamic releasing hormone, releasing factor, releasing hormoneany of several hormones produced in the hypothalamus and carried by a vein to the anterior pituitary gland where they stimulate the release of anterior pituitary hormones; each of these hormones causes the anterior pituitary to secrete a specific hormoneSTH, growth hormone, human growth hormone, somatotrophic hormone, somatotrophin, somatotropic hormone, somatotropina hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland; promotes growth in humansthymosinhormone secreted by the thymus; stimulates immunological activity of lymphoid tissuethyroid hormoneany of several closely related compounds that are produced by the thyroid gland and are active metabolicallyADH, Pitressin, antidiuretic hormone, vasopressinhormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland (trade name Pitressin) and also by nerve endings in the hypothalamus; affects blood pressure by stimulating capillary muscles and reduces urine flow by affecting reabsorption of water by kidney tubulesprostaglandina potent substance that acts like a hormone and is found in many bodily tissues (and especially in semen); produced in response to trauma and may affect blood pressure and metabolism and smooth muscle activityphlegm, sputumexpectorated matter; saliva mixed with discharges from the respiratory passages; in ancient and medieval physiology it was believed to cause sluggishnesssnotnasal mucusboogerdried nasal mucustobacco juicesaliva colored brown by tobacco (snuff or chewing tobacco)smegmaa white secretion of the sebaceous glands of the foreskinleucorrhea, leukorrheadischarge of white mucous material from the vagina; often an indication of infectionsex hormone, steroid, steroid hormoneany hormone affecting the development and growth of sex organsadrenosteronea steroid having androgenic activity; obtained from the cortex of the adrenal glandglucocorticoida steroid hormone that is produced by the adrenal cortex of animals; affects functioning of gonads and has anti-inflammatory activitycatecholamineany of a group of chemicals including epinephrine and norepinephrine that are produced in the medulla of the adrenal glandMSH, melanocyte-stimulating hormonea hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that controls the degree of pigmentation in melanocytesTSH, thyroid-stimulating hormone, thyrotrophic hormone, thyrotrophin, thyrotropic hormone, thyrotropinanterior pituitary hormone that stimulates the function of the thyroid glandTRF, TRH, protirelin, thyrotropin-releasing factor, thyrotropin-releasing hormonehormone released by the hypothalamus that controls the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitarytype of:
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