 Located above the kidneys like a hat for them.

 Corticosteroid: › Hydrocortisone (cortisol)-helps control the body’s use of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates › Corticosterone-suppresses inflammatory reactions in the body and also affects the immune system › Aldosterone- regulates level of sodium and potassium in the body and helps maintain blood pressure and volume. › Androgenic steroids- converted elsewhere in the body to female hormones and male hormones; however, these steroid hormones are produced in much larger amounts by the ovaries in women and testes in men.

 The hormones affect the body’s metabolism, the blood, and certain characteristics of the body.  The adrenal glands effect the way energy is stored and food is used.  It is also the first line of defense to emotional and physical stresses.

 The adrenal cortex is regulated by negative feedback involving the hypothalamus and adrenocorticotropic hormone.

 Adrenal cortex is devoted to production of corticosteroid and androgen hormones.  ACTH from the anterior pituitary stimulates the release of steroids from the adrenal cortex.

 Disorders occur when the adrenal gland doesn’t work properly. Disorders can occur and cause disorders depending on whether there is too many hormones or too little hormones produced.

 Too many hormones:  Adrenal gland tumors- cause too many hormones to be released  Cushing’s syndrome- too much cortisol  Pituitary tumors- can cause too many.  Hyperaldosteronism- too much aldosterone. Too little hormones : Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)- prevents gland from producing enough. Addison’s disease- doesn’t make enough aldosterone.

 Surgery can be performed to remove tumors or even to remove one or both adrenal glands.  Medication to stop the excess production of hormones.  Replacement hormones.

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