Adrenal gland hormones.
On the kidney's top surface is the adrenal gland(yellow). This endocrine gland secretes a variety of hormones. The chemical formulae for two corticosteroid hormones produced by the gland are shown. Cortisol(above) regulates the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates, sodium(Na), potassium(K) and proteins. Corticosterone(below) influences carbohydrate, Na and K metabolism and is needed for glycogen formation. Adrenaline is a hormone, which prepares the body to meet any emergency situation, for 'fight' i.e. to face danger or for 'flight', to run away from it. The adrenal glands are adjacent to the kidneys. Each adrenal consists of two parts – a central medulla and a peripheral cortex. Adrenal medulla secretes adrenalin (also called epinephrine and noradrenalin). Adrenal cortex secretes many hormones, the best known of which is cortisone (which suppresses inflammation).
Hormones from the adrenal cortex also function in the body's response to stress. Stressful stimuli cause the hypothalamus to secrete a releasing hormone that stimulates the anterior pituitary to release the tropic hormone ACTH. When ACTH reaches the adrenal cortex via the bloodstream, it stimulates the endocrine cells to synthesize and secrete a family of steroids called corticosteroids. Corticosteroids in humans are the glucocorticoids, such as cortisol, and the mineralocorticoids, such as aldosterone.
Mineralocorticoids regulate mineral metabolism specially Na+ and K+ ions. Glucocorticoids regulate carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism. The adrenal cortex produces a third group of corticosteroids that function as sex hormones. All the steroid hormones are synthesized from cholesterol and their structures differ in only minor ways. The sex hormones produced by the adrenal cortex are mainly male hormones (androgens), with small amounts of female hormones (estrogens and progestins). Hyposecretion from adrenal cortex causes Addison's disease. Hypersecretion of adrenal cortex causes Cushing's syndrome.