Adrenal Hormones and the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis

A review of the adrenal gland: its anatomy as two glands sitting on the kidneys, with the medulla releasing catecholamines and the cortex releasing steroids; the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, where corticotropin-releasing hormone drives ACTH and ACTH drives cortisol, and rising cortisol feeds back to inhibit both; the three classes of cortical hormone, glucocorticoids such as hydrocortisone, mineralocorticoids led by aldosterone, and androgens; why survival without a working cortex depends on electrolyte, fluid and hormone replacement; and the metabolic actions of glucocorticoids, from gluconeogenesis and protein mobilisation to reduced glucose use, adrenal diabetes, lipid mobilisation and anti-inflammatory effect, with review questions for the class.