Name the hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex

Question

Name the hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex? Also state their respective functions?

Answer 1

The cortical part of the adrenals secretes the hormones of corticoid (or corticosteroid) group, derived from cholesterol: mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoid and cortical sex hormones.

The glucocorticoids are cortisone and cortisol and. Glucocorticoids stimulates the formation of glucose from degradation of proteins of the muscle tissue (or gluconeogenesis) and therefore they help to raise glycemia. Such hormones play a significant immunosuppressant role, that is, they decrease the action of immune system and for this reason they are employed as medicine to treat inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and refusal of transplanted organs. The mineralocorticoids aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone regulate the potassium and sodium and blood concentration and therefore they control the water level of extracellular space. Aldosterone raises the sodium resorption and therefore the water resorption in the renal tubules and it as well stimulates the renal excretion of hydrogen and potassium.

The adrenal cortical sex hormones are: androgens, male sex hormones existed in men and women. In men, their main site of production is the testicle and they encourage the appearance of secondary male sex characteristics, such as deep voice, body hair and beard, the male pattern of fat distribution and maturation of genitalia. When abnormally high in women, they cause inhibited maturation of the female genitalia and disturbances of menstrual cycle.