What causes the adrenal medulla to release hormones?
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Solution
Adrenal Medulla:
The adrenal medulla is found in the middle of the adrenal gland, inside the adrenal cortex.
It regulates the hormones that cause the fight-or-flight reaction.
Epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) are two hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla.
The pituitary gland is stimulated to release adrenal corticotrophic hormone (ACTH) when the hypothalamus releases a corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH).
ACTH hormones stimulate the adrenal glands to synthesize corticosteroid hormones (adrenaline and noradrenaline).
The adrenal glands release stress hormones such as cortisol as the stress response is activated and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is activated, while the sympathetic-adrenomedullary axis (SAM) is also activated to release catecholamines.