What metabolic processes do adrenal glands influence?

The adrenal glands play a crucial role in the body's response to stress, particularly through the release of hormones such as adrenaline (epinephrine) and norepinephrine. These hormones are integral to the "fight or flight" response, which is activated in stressful or dangerous situations. When the body perceives a threat, the adrenal glands respond by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability, preparing the individual to either confront or flee from the danger. This response not only mobilizes energy stores but also prioritizes blood flow to essential organs, allowing for rapid physical reactions.

While the adrenal glands do have some influence on other metabolic processes, such as metabolism regulation through cortisol, their most notable and immediate influence pertains to the acute stress response, which encompasses the fight or flight mechanism. Growth and development, digestion, and reproductive health are more directly governed by other glands and hormones, such as the pituitary gland (growth hormone), gastrointestinal hormones, and sex hormones produced by the ovaries and testes, respectively.