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Human Body Study

Adrenal Glands

A pair of glands, one perched on top of each kidney. Each has two distinct parts.

The endocrine system A stylised body with the eight endocrine glands placed at their anatomical positions: hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, pancreatic islets and gonads. Each label links to the article for that gland. Hypothalamus Pituitary gland Pineal gland Thyroid gland Parathyroid glands Adrenal glands Pancreatic islets Gonads The endocrine glands at their anatomical positions — schematic, not to scale.

Two regions

Section titled “Two regions”
  • Adrenal cortex (outer) — makes steroid hormones: cortisol (stress, metabolism), aldosterone (salt and water balance), and some sex hormones.
  • Adrenal medulla (inner) — makes adrenaline and noradrenaline, the fast “fight-or-flight” hormones.

What they do

Section titled “What they do”

Manage the stress response — both the slow, sustained cortisol response and the fast adrenaline surge — as well as blood pressure and salt balance.

Key idea

Section titled “Key idea”

The adrenal glands are two organs in one: a slow hormonal cortex (the HPA axis) wrapped around a fast, nerve-driven medulla.