Adrenal gland

The adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are <a href="/facts/Endocrine_gland/J6w67lns">endocrine glands</a> that produce a variety of hormones including <a href="/facts/Adrenaline/k7vvMI7E">adrenaline</a> and the steroids <a href="/facts/Aldosterone/tjw4dr1u">aldosterone</a> and <a href="/facts/Cortisol/5IvRV0cm">cortisol</a>. They are found above the <a href="/facts/Kidneys/HBspPrv9">kidneys</a>. Each gland has an outer <a href="/facts/Adrenal_cortex/t4EkJgdy">cortex</a> which produces <a href="/facts/Steroid_hormone/WDtHmcTl">steroid hormones</a> and an inner <a href="/facts/Adrenal_medulla/0j2676vR">medulla</a>. The <a href="/facts/Adrenal_cortex/t4EkJgdy">adrenal cortex</a> itself is divided into three main zones: the <a href="/facts/Zona_glomerulosa/5WVzdq6P">zona glomerulosa</a>, the <a href="/facts/Zona_fasciculata/QGv1mbg8">zona fasciculata</a> and the <a href="/facts/Zona_reticularis/a1wv59Hr">zona reticularis</a>.
The adrenal cortex produces three main types of <a href="/facts/Steroid_hormone/WDtHmcTl">steroid hormones</a>: <a href="/facts/Mineralocorticoid/Ruj1B1Mv">mineralocorticoids</a>, <a href="/facts/Glucocorticoid/2P91Aj3S">glucocorticoids</a>, and <a href="/facts/Androgen/Rxey0HxX">androgens</a>. Mineralocorticoids (such as <a href="/facts/Aldosterone/tjw4dr1u">aldosterone</a>) produced in the zona glomerulosa help in the regulation of blood pressure and <a href="/facts/Osmoregulation/zXEhVwD4">electrolyte balance</a>. The glucocorticoids <a href="/facts/Cortisol/5IvRV0cm">cortisol</a> and <a href="/facts/Cortisone/z5GUmvNG">cortisone</a> are synthesized in the zona fasciculata; their functions include the regulation of <a href="/facts/Metabolism/WxDrm8k5">metabolism</a> and <a href="/facts/Immune_system/HRCTf1pb">immune system</a> suppression. The innermost layer of the cortex, the zona reticularis, produces androgens that are converted to fully functional sex hormones in the <a href="/facts/Gonad/36BUam2x">gonads</a> and other target organs. The production of steroid hormones is called <a href="/facts/Steroid/4AhMbgXt">steroidogenesis</a>, and involves a number of reactions and processes that take place in cortical cells. The medulla produces the <a href="/facts/Catecholamine/hHFrCMgM">catecholamines</a>, which function to produce a <a href="/facts/Fight-or-flight_response_(in_humans)/hRrBawJP">rapid response</a> throughout the body in <a href="/facts/Stress_(biology)/H29jPp2B">stress</a> situations.
A number of <a href="/facts/Endocrine_disease/nDuNHkJY">endocrine diseases</a> involve dysfunctions of the adrenal gland. Overproduction of cortisol leads to <a href="/facts/Cushing%2527s_syndrome/AYW7Gjma">Cushing's syndrome</a>, whereas insufficient production is associated with <a href="/facts/Addison%2527s_disease/Lp8AqjEX">Addison's disease</a>. <a href="/facts/Congenital_adrenal_hyperplasia/HTXWkLl8">Congenital adrenal hyperplasia</a> is a genetic disease produced by dysregulation of endocrine control mechanisms. A variety of <a href="/facts/Neoplasm/K0ytzmPz">tumors</a> can arise from adrenal tissue and are commonly found in <a href="/facts/Medical_imaging/pL6JyJEp">medical imaging</a> when searching for other diseases.

Adrenal gland open-in-new

Adrenal gland