Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Adrenal Glands

  • Living reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine

Synonyms

Endocrine gland; Kidney; Adrenal cortex; Adrenal medulla

Definition

The adrenal glands are part of the endocrine system that is comprised of various glands that are located throughout the body. These glands are responsible for synthesizing and producing hormones that communicate regulatory information to cells and organs. The adrenal glands are primarily responsible for the stress response in the human body secondary to physical or emotional stimuli. The two adrenal glands are pyramid-shaped organs located directly anterior to the kidneys and behind the peritoneum. Each adrenal gland consists of two distinct portions: an inner medulla and an outer cortex. Each portion has differing but interrelated structures and hormonal functions.

Description

The adrenal medulla synthesizes and secretes the catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine. Major effects of catecholamines are increased rate and force of contraction of the heart muscle, constriction of blood vessels, dilation of...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

References and Further Readings

  • Ebstrup, J., Eplov, L., Pisinger, C., & Jorgensen, T. (2011). Association between the five factor personality traits and perceived stress: Is the effect medicated by general self-efficacy? Anxiety, Stress, and Coping, 6, 1–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, J. (1990). Type A behavior, personality, and sympathetic response. Behavioral Medicine, 16(4), 149–160.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCance, K., & Huether, S. (2006). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children (5th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPhee, S., & Papadakis, M. (2010). Current medical diagnosis and treatment. New York: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pathology Outlines. (2016). Adrenal gland and paraganglia. Retrieved 27 Mar 2016, from www.pathologyoutlines.com/adrenal.html#top

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI, 53792-2455, USA

    Linda C. Baumann

  2. Alina Health System, St. Paul, MN, USA

    Alyssa Ylinen

Authors
  1. Linda C. Baumann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alyssa Ylinen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Linda C. Baumann or Alyssa Ylinen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA

    Marc Gellman

  2. Campbell University School of Pharmacy, Buies Creek, North Carolina, USA

    J. Rick Turner

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Baumann, L.C., Ylinen, A. (2016). Adrenal Glands. In: Gellman, M., Turner, J. (eds) Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_79-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6439-6_79-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-6439-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation