Description:
One of a pair of small, triangle-shaped glands on top of each kidney. Each adrenal gland has two parts: the adrenal cortex (the outer layer of the adrenal gland) and the adrenal medulla (the center of the adrenal gland). The adrenal glands make steroid hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These hormones help control many important body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, metabolism, and the way the body reacts to stress. The adrenal glands also make hormones that balance water and salt in the body and are involved in the development of sex characteristics. Also called suprarenal gland.
