Adrenal glands

Article Excerpts about Adrenal glands

Cortisol is normally produced by the adrenal glands, located just above the kidneys. It belongs to a class of hormones called glucocorticoids, which affect almost every organ and tissue in the body. Scientists think that cortisol has possibly hundreds of effects in the body. Cortisol's most important job is to help the body respond to stress. Among its other vital tasks, cortisol:

• helps maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function;
• helps slow the immune system's inflammatory response;
• helps balance the effects of insulin in breaking down sugar for energy; and
• helps regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.

Because cortisol is so vital to health, the amount of cortisol produced by the adrenals is precisely balanced. Like many other hormones, cortisol is regulated by the brain's hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, a bean-sized organ at the base of the brain. (Source: excerpt from Addison's Disease: NIDDK)

Summary Information: Adrenal glands

Adrenal glands: The adrenal glands are a pair of endocrine glands, one located on the top of each kidney. The adrenal glands produce a variety of hormones, chemical substances that help to regulate a wide variety of the body's processes. The adrenal glands and the hormones they produce play a big role in such processes as metabolism, water and electrolyte balance, sexual development and function, the immune system, and the stress response.

The adrenal glands include two regions, the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla, which each produce different hormones. Adrenal hormones include the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine, and the adrenal steroid hormones: adrenal androgen hormones, mineralocorticoids, and glucocorticoids. Conditions that can afflict the adrenal glands include Addison's disease, Cushing's syndrome, pheochromocytoma, hyperaldosteronism, adrenal tumors, adrenal cancer, and trauma.

Closely Related Organs: Adrenal glands

The following organs are closely related to the organ: Adrenal glands:

• Catecholamines
• Adrenal androgen hormones
• Steroid hormones
• Electrolytes
• Metabolism
• Immune system
• Pituitary gland
• Kidney
• Adrenal hormones
• Endocrine system
• Reproductive system

Conditions Afflicting Organs: Adrenal glands

The following conditions are related to the organ: Adrenal glands:

• Addison's disease
• Cushing's syndrome
• Pheochromocytoma
• Hyperaldosteronism
• Adrenal tumors
• Adrenal cancer
• Trauma

Other Names: Adrenal glands

The following are other names for the organ: Adrenal glands:

• Suprarenal glands

Sub Parts: Adrenal glands

The following list contains sub-parts of the organ: Adrenal glands:

• Adrenal cortex
• Adrenal medulla

Symptoms Related to Afflictions of: Adrenal glands

These symptoms are related to afflictions of the organ: Adrenal glands:

• Hypoglycemia
• Weakness
• Obesity
• Fragile skin and bones
• Moon face
• Hypertension
• Sexual dysfunction
• Menstrual abnormalities
• Headache
• Diabetes
• Heart palpitations

Condition count: 12 ; see list below.

Organ subtypes: adrenal cortex, adrenal medulla

Organ types: Glands (79), Endocrine system (93), Hormonal system (93)

Produces: adrenalin, noradrenalin, aldosterone, mineralocorticoid hormones, glucocorticoid hormones

Number: 2 adrenal glands

Related organs: kidneys (53), potassium metabolism (2), sodium metabolism, glucose metabolism

Main condition: Adrenal disorders

Organs: list of all organs

Adrenal glands: Related Topics

• Adrenal
• Adrenal symptoms
• Adrenal disease
• Adrenal disorder
• Glands

Diseases List for Adrenal glands:

The following list of medical conditions have 'Adrenal glands' or similar listed as an affected body part in our database:

A

• Addison's Disease ... adrenal glands
• Addisonian crisis ... adrenal glands
• Adrenal Cancer ... adrenal
• Adrenal disorders ... adrenal
• Adrenal insufficiency ... adrenal gland

C

• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia ... adrenal
• Cushing's syndrome ... adrenal glands

M

• Multiple endocrine neoplasia ... adrenal glands
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 ... adrenal gland
• Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 3 ... adrenal gland

N

• Neuroblastoma ... adrenal

P

• Pheochromocytoma ... adrenal gland

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