adrenal

Each adrenal gland has an outer layer, the cortex, which makes cortisolcortisolKOR-tih-solA steroid hormone made by the adrenal glands that helps control blood sugar, blood pressure, stress and inflammation.Full entry Close, aldosterone and small amounts of sex hormones, and an inner part, the adrenal medullaadrenal medullauh-DREE-nul meh-DUL-uhThe inner part of each adrenal gland, which releases epinephrine and norepinephrine.medulla inner part (Latin for marrow)Full entry Close, which makes epinephrineepinephrineep-ih-NEF-rinA hormone and drug, also called adrenaline, that raises heart rate and blood pressure and opens the airways.Full entry Close and norepinephrinenorepinephrinenor-ep-ih-NEF-rinA hormone and nerve messenger that narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure, also given as an IV drug.Full entry Close. Too little cortisol is adrenal insufficiency (Addison disease); too much is Cushing syndrome. An adrenal crisis is a sudden, life-threatening lack of cortisol.

Teach clients on long-term corticosteroidcorticosteroidkor-tih-koh-STER-oydA drug that acts like the hormones of the adrenal glands, used mainly to calm inflammation and the immune system.cortic/o cortex (the outer layer of the adrenal gland)-oid likeFull entry Closes never to stop them suddenly, because their own adrenal glands may not be ready to take over.