What Do Adrenal Glands Do?
The adrenal glands perform important functions in the growth and development of a person, from conception through adulthood. Working with the hypothalamus and pituitary gland of the brain, the adrenal glands are part of the intricate endocrine system of the body.
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Basics
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Sitting atop each of the kidneys are the triangularly shaped adrenal glands. Each adrenal gland, also called suprarenal glands, is made up of two parts, each part responsible for its own and separate functions.
The outer portion of the adrenal gland is called the adrenal cortex; the inner portion of the gland is called the adrenal medulla.
Functions
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The adrenal cortex provides the life-sustaining function of providing hormones such as corticosteroids, androgens and aldosterone. The adrenal medulla provides hormones--adrenaline and noradrenaline--whose functions are important to a person's ability to deal with mental and physical stress.
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Corticosteroids
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There are two corticosteroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex: cortisol and corticosterone.
Cortisol controls the body's use of the major nutrients--fats, carbohydrates and proteins. Corticosterone works with cortisol to suppress the body's responses to inflammation and has effects on the body's immune system.
Androgens
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Androgens are hormones that minimally affect male characteristics development and produced by the adrenal cortex.
Aldosterone
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Another hormone of the adrenal cortex, aldosterone, regulates blood pressure levels through influencing how much sodium is retained or excreted from the body.
Adrenaline and Noradrenaline
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Often referred to as the "fight or flight" hormone, adrenaline prepares the body to respond to perceived stresses/threats by increasing heart rate, increasing blood flow to the brain and muscles and assisting in the conversion of glycogen to glucose for ready use by the body.
Noradrenaline affects vasoconstriction, which elevates blood pressure during perceived stresses/threats.
Disorders
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Cushing's syndrome occurs when a body is exposed to too much cortisol. This may be a result of some medications or due to adrenal hyperplasia.
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a situation in which a child is born with dysfunction of the adrenal glands where the adrenal cortex does not produce sufficient cortisol. There may be problems with other adrenal cortex hormone levels as well
In pituitary tumors, the pituitary gland--located in the brain--regulates the activity of the adrenal glands. It's rare that such tumors develop, but they can lead to the development of an overproduction of cortisol, resulting in Cushing's disease.
Addison's disease can occur as an effect of pituitary tumors. The functions of the adrenal medulla are suppressed, meaning that adrenaline and noradrenaline aren't available in sufficient amounts to handle stress reactions. This disease can be life-threatening.
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