Pituitary-Adrenal Axis

Question 1

What are the 3 layers of the adrenal cortex and what hormones do they secrete?

Answer 1

• Adrenal gland is divided into adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla.
  1. Zona Glomerulosa (outer most): Aldosterone.
  2. Zona Fasciculata (middle): Glucocorticoids e.g cortisol.
  3. Zona Reticularis (inner): Androgenic corticoids.

Question 2

What is the function of cortisol?

Answer 2

• Regulate metabolism and responses to stress.
• Stimulates gluconeogenesis to produce hyperglycaemia.
• Causes the breakdown of triglycerides into fatty acids and glycerol via lipolysis. This causes the production of energy.