Adrenal cortex
From The School of Biomedical Sciences Wiki
The Adrenal cortex is located on the kidney, and produces hormones.
It is the outer portion of adrenal gland that produces steroid hormones[1].
The adrenal cortex secretes 4 main hormones, these include cortisol, aldosterone, and 2 weak androgens androstenedione and dehydroepiandrostenedione (DHEA). Cortisol is an important metabolic hormone, aldosterone is a hormone involved in salt and water homeostasis, and the androgens are regarded as having little physiological significance when gonadal function is normal. Due to multiple secretions, the adrenal cortex isn't a single endocrine gland[2].
References
- ↑ Silverthorn, D. (2013) Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach, 6th ed., Boston, Pearson Education pp.386-87
- ↑ Nussey S, Whitehead S. Endocrinology: An Integrated Approach. Oxford: BIOS Scientific Publishers; 2001. Chapter 4, The adrenal gland. Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK26/