Adrenal Glands Biological & Biomedical Sciences Essay (Essay Sample)

Adrenal Glands
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Introduction to adrenal glands
Are small endocrine glands that are found above the kidney. They produce useful hormones that a human being cannot survive without. Such hormones include the adrenaline hormone steroid aldosterone and the cortisol hormone (Santulli 2015). Adrenaline hormone triggers the body to fight or flight. This is achieved by the vessels dilating thus providing muscles with enough oxygen that enhance the fight of flight. Another important hormone secreted by the adrenaline gland is the cortisol. this helps the organism to respond to stress by regulating the blood sugar levels, regulating the body metabolism and prevention of inflammation (Santulli 2015).
Effects of hormonal imbalance
stress can lead to serious alteration of the normal functioning of this organ. The adrenaline gland secretes both sex hormones as well as other useful ones. Stressing these glands will result in hormonal imbalance that will, in turn, lead to detrimental impacts. Such effects include; termination of pregnancies due to unbalance production of aldosterone hormone (Pacak et al. 2001). For the case of unbalanced production of adrenaline and the cortisol, the body of the victim will turn week, appetite reduction vomiting, weight loss as well as muscle weakness. Chronically deficiency or imbalance of adrenaline secretion will result in a condition known as adrenaline fatigue. Other chronic effects of the imbalance of the hormones are the Cushing's Syndrome, Congenital Adrenal hyperplasia and the pituitary tumors (Pacak et al. 2001).