While some adrenal diseases can be inherited (i.e. The early detection and treatment of adrenal disease can significantly improve outcomes and profoundly improve a patient's quality of life. The main diseases of a hyperactive adrenal gland include: primary hyperaldosteronism (too much aldosterone), Cushing's syndrome (too much cortisol), and pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma (too much adrenaline). helps you respond to stressful situations) and are better known as& adrenaline.Īdrenal disease usually occurs when there is a tumor (either cancer or benign) and/or a hyperactive adrenal gland that makes too much of any of these hormones. These hormones help with the 'fight or flight' response (i.e. The adrenal medulla, or inner portion of the adrenal gland, produces a group of hormones known as catecholamines. Hormone: Sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen)įunction: Control reproductive organs and development of male/female characteristics The adrenal cortex, or outer portion of the adrenal gland has three layers, each making a different hormone:įunction: Controls immune system, inflammation, stress response If the adrenal gland were a peanut butter sandwich, the cortex would be the bread and the medulla the peanut butter. The glands consist of an outer part called the cortex and an inner part called the medulla.

The adrenal glands make a variety of hormones that are essential to maintaining the normal function of the body.

The adrenal glands are two small glands (each weighs about 4 to 6 grams) located in the back of the abdomen immediately above the kidneys.

Adrenal cortex location and function