cortisol
A hormone belonging to the class known as
glucocorticoids, which affect almost
every organ and tissue in the body. Cortisol is produced by the cortex of
the adrenal glands. Its most important
job is to help the body respond to stress. Among its many other vital tasks,
cortisol
- helps maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function
- helps slow the immune system's
inflammatory response
- helps balance the effects of insulin
in breaking down sugar for energy
- helps regulate the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats
- helps maintain proper arousal and sense of well-being
Because cortisol is so vital to health, the amount of cortisol produced
by the adrenals is precisely balanced. Like many other hormones, cortisol
is regulated by the brain's hypothalamus
and the pituitary gland, a bean-sized
organ at the base of the brain. First, the hypothalamus sends "releasing
hormones" to the pituitary gland. The pituitary responds by secreting hormones
that regulate growth and thyroid and
adrenal function, and sex hormones such as estrogen
and testosterone. One of the pituitary's
main functions is to secrete adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH), a hormone that stimulates the adrenal glands. When the
adrenals receive the pituitary's signal in the form of ACTH, they respond
by producing cortisol. Completing the cycle, cortisol then signals the pituitary
to lower secretion of ACTH.
Related category
• BIOCHEMISTRY
Source: National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases
Information Service
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