![]() The main glucocorticoid secreted by the adrenal gland is the stress hormone cortisol, the main mineralocorticoid is aldosterone and the androgen is testosterone. There are three classes of steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex and they are: glucocorticoids, important for sugar metabolism, mineralocorticoids important for salt balance, and androgens, which are male sex hormones. The adrenal gland consists of a central portion (the medulla) responsible for the release of adrenaline and the outside layer (the cortex), which is responsible for generating the steroid hormones. The body has two adrenal glands one sitting above each kidney. In addition, adrenal insufficiency may occur in patients treated with steroids, which suppresses cortisol secretion and results in a temporary and occasionally permanent adrenal insufficiency, called tertiary adrenal insufficiency. This may occur through failure of the adrenal gland itself (primary adrenal failure commonly called Addison’s disease) or failure of the pituitary gland to stimulate normal cortisol levels from the adrenal gland (secondary adrenal insufficiency). ![]() ![]() Adrenal insufficiency occurs when the adrenal gland fails to provide adequate levels of the stress hormone cortisol. ![]()
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