The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.
endorphins
(en-DAWR-finz) Substances produced by the brain that have painkilling and tranquillizing effects on the body. Endorphins are thought to be similar to morphine and are usually released by the brain during times of extreme body stress. The release of endorphins may explain why trauma victims sometimes cannot feel the pain associated with their injuries.
