腺(せん)

せん

noun

gland

1. gland

An organ or group of cells in the body that produces and secretes substances such as hormones, sweat, or saliva. Used in medical and biological contexts.

甲状(こうじょう)腺(せん)の検査(けんさ)を受(う)けた。

I had my thyroid gland examined.

汗(あせ)腺(せん)から汗(あせ)が分泌(ぶんぴつ)される。

Sweat is secreted from the sweat glands.

唾液(だえき)腺(せん)が腫(は)れて食事(しょくじ)のときに痛(いた)みを感(かん)じるので、病院(びょういん)に行(い)くことにした。

My salivary glands are swollen and I feel pain when eating, so I decided to go to the hospital.

Usage

Rarely used alone; almost always appears as a suffix combined with the type of gland. Note the kanji 腺(せん) contains the 月(にくづき) radical (flesh/body) plus 泉(いずみ) (spring), reflecting its meaning as a bodily source of fluids.

Compounds

甲状(こうじょう)腺(せん) (thyroid gland)
汗(あせ)腺(せん) (sweat gland)
唾液(だえき)腺(せん) (salivary gland)
乳(にゅう)腺(せん) (mammary gland)
前立(ぜんりつ)腺(せん) (prostate gland)
リンパ腺(せん) (lymph gland)

general

Added 2026.3.19 20:50 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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