Functions

 

The main functions of the adrenal medulla include:

1. Production of Epinephrine and Norepinephrine:

   • Epinephrine (Adrenaline): This hormone increases heart rate, dilates airways, and boosts blood flow to muscles, helping the body respond quickly to stressful situations.
   • Norepinephrine (Noradrenaline): This hormone works alongside epinephrine to increase blood pressure by constricting blood vessels and also helps maintain blood pressure during stress.

   Fight-or-Flight Response:

   When faced with a stressful situation, the sympathetic nervous system stimulates the adrenal medulla to release epinephrine and norepinephrine into the bloodstream.

   • These hormones prepare the body for immediate physical action by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability, and by redirecting blood flow to essential organs like the heart and muscles.

   Metabolic Effects:

   • Epinephrine increases blood glucose levels by promoting the breakdown of glycogen to glucose in the liver and muscles, providing a quick source of energy.
   • It also stimulates the breakdown of fats to fatty acids, which can be used as an additional energy source.

   Regulation of Blood Flow:

   • Epinephrine and norepinephrine cause vasodilation in skeletal muscles and the liver, increasing blood flow to these areas, while causing vasoconstriction in other parts of the body, such as the skin and digestive organs, to prioritize blood supply to critical areas during stress.