Adrenocortical Hormones

Question 1

What are the hormones secreted by adrenal cortex called?

Answer 1

Corticosteroids

• synthesized from steroid cholesterol and have similar chemical formulas
• slight differences in molecular formulas

Question 2

What are the two major types of adrenocortical hormones secreted by adrenal cortex?

Answer 2

a) mineralcorticoids; aldosterone (affect the electrolytes “minerals” of the extracellular fluids sodium and potassium
b) glucocorticoids; cortisol (affects the blood glucose concentration, protein and fat metabolsim)
* a small amount of sex hormones are secreted; androgens/androgenic hormones