CBSE Class 10 Answered

The adrenal glands are responsible for producing several important hormones and are critical to the stress response. They have two parts: the cortex, and the medulla. The medulla, which is the inner part, pours out epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine. These hormones speed up the body's metabolism in order to help us to cope with physical and emotional stress. These hormones govern the fight or flight response. When we experience fear and our heart starts racing, the adrenal gland is secreting adrenaline and other stress related hormones to come to the rescue and give us the extra boost of energy that we need to get through the emotional stress. When the brain interprets an event as threatening, the adrenals begin to work. They signal the nervous system to prepare to fight or flee. This signal mobilizes the respiratory and circulatory systems of the body for emergency action. Reserve energy in the body is called upon, and functions are diverted away from normal, homeostatic body function including those of the immune system. Even though the fight or flight response may be over, the resistance reaction allows the body to continue fighting the stressor long after the effects of our alarm system have gone off.