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adrenal gland: Quick Facts

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Facts

Also Known As suprarenal gland

Photos

Diagram showing the location of the adrenal glands above the kidneys in the human body, with a detailed cross-section labeling the capsule, adrenal cortex with its three zones (zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis), and the adrenal medulla.
Diagram showing the organization of the autonomic nervous system, with labeled pathways for parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves, highlighting synapses, neurotransmitters like acetylcholine and norepinephrine, and their receptor types.
Diagram of the female renal system showing kidneys, adrenal glands, and urinary tract organs in their anatomical positions, with labels for major structures including blood vessels, bladder, and uterus.
Major glands of the human endocrine system. The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland and influences food intake, weight regulation, fluid intake and balance, thirst, body heat, and the sleep cycle. Pituitary hormones stimulate growth, egg and sperm development, milk secretion, and release of hormones by other glands. The pineal gland may play a significant role in sexual maturation and the circadian rhythm. Thyroid hormones regulate the metabolic rate of tissues, stimulate the contraction of heart muscle, and are necessary for normal growth and brain development before birth and during infancy. Parathyroid hormone regulates calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium levels. The adrenal glands regulate salt and water retention, some reactions of the immune system, and blood pressure. The islets of Langerhans regulate blood sugar levels. The ovaries and testes produce hormones that regulate the reproductive system and that produce male and female secondary sex characteristics.
The principal glands of the female and male human endocrine systems.
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Key People

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Jokichi Takamine
Japanese-born biochemist
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Geoffrey Bourne
American anatomist

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