The adrenal glands are small endocrine glands located above each kidney that produce important hormones. They have an outer cortex that produces steroid hormones like cortisol and aldosterone. The inner medulla produces catecholamines like adrenaline. The hormones regulate processes like stress response, metabolism, blood pressure, and sexual development. Disorders can occur if the glands overproduce or underproduce hormones, leading to issues like Cushing's syndrome, Addison's disease, or primary aldosteronism.

1. ADRENAL GLANDS

2. The adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal
glands) are endocrine glands that produce a
variety of hormones including adrenaline and
the steroids aldosterone and cortisol. They are
found above the kidneys. Each gland has an
outer cortex which produces steroid hormones
and an inner medulla.
Adrenal Glands

3. Where are my adrenal glands?
The adrenal glands are small glands located on
top of each kidney. They produce hormones
that you can't live without, including sex
hormones and cortisol. Cortisol helps you
respond to stress and has many other important
functions. With adrenal gland disorders,
your glands make too much or not enough
hormones.

4. What do my adrenal glands do?
Each adrenal gland is composed of two distinct
parts: the outer part called the adrenal cortex
and the inner adrenal medulla. The adrenal
glands secrete different hormones which act as
'chemical messengers'. These hormones travel
in the bloodstream and act on various body
tissues to enable them to function correctly. All
adrenocortical hormones are steroid
compounds made from cholesterol.

6. What hormones do my adrenal
glands produce?
 The adrenal cortex produces three
hormones:
 1. Mineralocorticoids: the most important of which
is aldosterone. This hormone helps to maintain the body’s
salt and water levels which, in turn, regulates blood
pressure. Without aldosterone, the kidney loses excessive
amounts of salt (sodium) and, consequently, water, leading
to severe dehydration and low blood pressure.

7. 2. Glucocorticoids: predominantly cortisol.
This hormone is involved in the response to
illness and also helps to regulate
body metabolism. Cortisol
stimulates glucose production helping the
body to free up the necessary ingredients
from storage (fat and muscle) to make
glucose. Cortisol also has significant anti-
inflammatory effects.

8. 3. Adrenal androgens: male sex hormones
mainly dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
and testosterone. All have weak effects, but
play a role in early development of the male
sex organs in childhood, and female body
during puberty.

10. The adrenal medulla produces
catecholamines:
Catecholamines include adrenaline,
noradrenaline and small amounts of
dopamine – these hormones are responsible
for all the physiological characteristics of the
stress response, the so called 'fight or flight'
response.

11. Adrenal Glands Peptides
Hormones produced in the cortical
substance, are corticosteroids. In cerebral
layer of the adrenal gland produces
adrenaline. ... Addition of adrenaline and
noradrenaline in the brain cells of the layer to
produce peptides that performs a regulatory
function in the Central nervous system and
gastrointestinal tract.

12. What could go wrong with my adrenal glands?
 Commonly, overproduction of aldosterone can occur, which causes a condition known
as primaryhyperaldosteronism. This causes high blood pressure, which is resistant to conventional blood
pressure control tablets, and salt disturbances. High blood pressure may cause headaches and visual
problems. Some studies have suggested that hyperaldosteronism may account for up to 5% of all people
with high blood pressure and an even higher proportion of those who have treatment-
resistant hypertension. In rare cases, the adrenal glands can become either overactive or
underactive. The two main glucocorticoid-related disorders resulting from these are Cushing's
syndrome and Addison's disease, respectively. Cushing's syndrome is due to overactive adrenal glands
from excessive production of cortisol. The clinical findings include thinning and bruising of the
skin, obesity, diabetes, psychiatric disturbances, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, osteoporosis,
excessive facial hair and irregular periods in women. It can result in growth failure in children. Patients
with cortisol excess also have impaired wound healing and an increased susceptibility to infection.

13. Types of adrenal disorders
 Cushing's syndrome
 Addison's disease
 Primary aldosteronism
 Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
 Adrenal tumor
 Pheochromocytoma
 Adrenal crisis
 Adrenal insufficiency
 Cushing's disease
 Hyperaldosteronism
 Adrenoleukodystrophy
 Waterhouse–Friderichsen syndrome
 Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to
17α-hydroxylase deficiency
 Adrenocorticotropic hormone
deficiency
 Adrenocortical adenoma
 Adrenocortical carcinoma
 Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to
21-hydroxylase deficiency
 Congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to
11β-hydroxylase deficiency
 Glucocorticoid deficiency 1
 Glucocorticoid remediable
aldosteronism
 Apparent mineralocorticoid excess
syndrome
 Adrenocortical hyperfunction
 Hypoaldosteronism