

Overview of Adrenal Disorders


Hormones secreted by the adrenal glands include:

  • Adrenal cortex
    • Corticosteroid hormones (hydrocortisone or cortisol). Hormones that help control the body's use of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, suppress inflammatory reactions in the body, and affect the immune system function.
    • Aldosterone. Inhibits the level of sodium excreted into the urine, and maintains blood volume and blood pressure.
    • Androgenic steroids (androgen hormones). Hormones that have an effect on the development of male characteristics.

Hormones secreted by the adrenal glands also include:

  • Adrenal medulla
    • Epinephrine (adrenaline). Increases the heart rate and force of heart contractions, facilitates blood flow to the muscles and brain, causes relaxation of smooth muscles, helps with conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver, and other activities.

Certain adrenal gland disorders are characterized by an inability of the adrenal glands to produce cortisol (also known as hydrocortisone hormone) and aldosterone, often due to certain missing enzymes (proteins that speed up or cause chemical reactions). The result is enlarged adrenal glands due to overstimulation from the hypothalamus which detects the low levels of hormones. The hypothalamus, in turn, stimulates the pituitary gland to stimulate the adrenal glands. Overstimulation of the adrenal glands can lead to overproduction of androgens, which can lead to masculinization.

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