Question

Write briefly about the endocrine gland which prepares the body for emergencies.

Answer 1

Endocrine Gland:

1. The inner portion of the adrenal gland, the medulla, secretes two hormones, adrenaline, and nor-adrenaline. Secretion of adrenaline by the adrenal medulla of the adrenal gland prepares the body for emergencies.
2. The two adrenal glands present at the top of the two kidneys, one of each kidney, has two portions, the outer yellowish part known as the cortex and the inner portion known as the medulla.

Adrenal Cortex:

1. The adrenal cortex secretes several steroid hormones such as estrogen, aldosterone, and corticosterone, and the other 20 hormones are classified into three groups; sex hormones, mineralocorticoids, and glucocorticoids.
2. All these hormones play essential roles in several physiological activities such as life regulation, muscular work maintenance, regulation of carbohydrate and protein metabolism, and maintaining salt-water balance in the body through the kidneys.

Adrenal Medulla:

1. The adrenal medulla secretes two hormones, adrenaline, and nor-adrenaline, which alter the heartbeat and cardiac output.
2. While adrenaline (vasodilator) increases the cardiac output and heartbeat by increasing the diameter of the blood vessels, nor-adrenaline (vasoconstrictor) decreases the cardiac output and heartbeat by decreasing the diameter of the blood vessels. Adrenaline is the one secretion that helps an individual body fight emergencies and stressful situations. On the other side, nor-adrenaline raises the blood pressure and stimulates the contraction of blood vessels.