PSY-B - Psychology PSY-B 103 Lecture Notes - Lecture 8: Adrenal Medulla, Adrenal Gland, Sympathetic Nervous System
25 Nov 2016
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When the body perceives a threat, a domino effect occurs. Adrenaline and cortisol are two important stress hormones responsible for the fight or flight response. The on switch is the sympathetic nervous stems which has sympathy for us when we are in danger and activates the fight or flight response. The off switch is the parasympathetic nervous system which cleans up the mess when the danger is done, calming down our systems. It is through the sympathetic system that the first stress hormones epinephrine is released. The adrenal gland is situated on top of the kidney. The core of the adrenal gland is the adrenal medulla; the outer covering of the adrenal gland is the adrenal cortex. Nerves from the spinal cord are hooked up to a part of the adrenal gland. The sympathetic nervous system is able to activate the adrenal medulla, which releases the adrenaline directly into the bloodstream.
