Question

Which glands are known as glands of emergency ? How adrenal medulla and sympathetic nervous system function as closely integrated system ?

Answer 1

The inner portion of the adrenal gland, known as the medulla, secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine, the hormones important in the fight or flight reaction to a threat or sudden stress. The adrenal gland of medulla is known as emergency gland. The secretion of these hormones is stimulated when nerve impulse reach the adrenal medulla through sympathetic nerve fibres. Both sympathetic nerves and adrenal medulla are stimulated in physical stress like fall in blood pressure or blood sugar, pain, cold or injury; both are also stimulated in emotional stress such as anger, fear and grief. From this it is clearly understood that adrenal medulla and sympathetic nerves system function as a closely integrated system.