gonadal
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
go·nad·al
(gō-nad'ăl),Relating to a gonad.
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012
go·nad·al
(gō-nad'ăl)Relating to a gonad.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012
gonad
(go'nad) (gon'ad) [Gr. gone, seed]1. The embryonic sex before differentiation into definitive testis or ovary.
2. A generic term referring to the female ovaries and the male testes. Each forms the cells necessary for human reproduction: spermatozoa from the testes, ova from the ovaries. See: estrogen; ovary; testicle; testosterone
gonadal, adjectiveHormones
Female: The follicles of the ovaries secrete estrogen, which helps regulate the menstrual cycle and the development of the secondary sex characteristics. The corpus luteum also produces progesterone, which stimulates growth of blood vessels in the endometrium for the implantation of a fertilized egg. Male: The interstitial cells of the testes secrete testosterone, which is essential for maturation of sperm and for development of the secondary sex characteristics.
Hormones from both sexes have been isolated and standardized and are used to treat conditions arising from an insufficiency of these hormones.
Medical Dictionary, © 2009 Farlex and Partners