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| Cortisol |
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What are stress hormones? Stress hormones or counter-regulatory hormones are hormones released during stressful situations, such as an illness or infection. These hormones include glucagon, epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine, cortisol, and growth hormone. The adrenal medulla secretes two neurotransmitters, epinephrine (also called adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), in the response to stress. The release of these neurotransmitters leads to the physiologic effects seen in the fight or flight response, for example, a rapid heart rate, increased alertness, etc. Hans Selye, another early scientist who is known to have studied stress, extended Cannon's observations. He included, as part of the body's stress response system, the pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain. He described the control by this gland of the secretion of hormones (for example, cortisol) that are important in the physiological response to stress by the other part of the adrenal gland known as the cortex. Additionally, Selye actually introduced the term stress from physics and engineering and defined it as "mutual actions of forces that take place across any section of the body, physical or psychological." |