Adrenal Glands: Endocrine Celebrity

The adrenal glands are associated with the “fight or flight” reaction, but they have a much bigger role than you might think!

They are ductless glands, pyramidal in shape, that sit above the kidneys, making and releasing hormones directly into the bloodstream. There are different zones in the adrenal glands and each zone produces different hormones, including mineralcorticoids (mineral and water balance), glucocorticoids (glucose levels), and gonadcorticoids (adrenal sex hormones).

The medulla of the adrenal glands produce epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine , which also function as neurotransmitters in the nervous system. Epinephrine, when released during times of stress and excitement, floods the bloodstream, affecting heart rate, breathing rate, arousal, and pupil dilation (among others).