Question

What are the adrenal glands?

Answer 1

The adrenal glands are endocrine glands that produces a variety of hormones and are found above the kidneys.

Explanation:

The adrenal glands are located on both sides of the body in the retroperitoneum, above and slightly medial to the kidneys. The right adrenal gland is pyramidal in shape and the left is semilunar and somewhat larger.

These glands are yellow in colour. Each adrenal gland has two distinct parts, the outer cortex and the inner medulla, both of which produce hormones.

The adrenal cortex produces three main types of steroid hormones - mineralocorticoids ( regulate blood pressure and electrolyte balance).
- glucocorticoids ( regulate metabolism and control immune system suppression).
- androgens ( converted to fully functional sex hormones).

The medulla produces catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline, which function to produce a rapid response throughout the body in stress situations.