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Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior pp 1–4Cite as

Adrenalin

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Synonym

Epinephrine

Definition

Adrenalin is a hormone and neurotransmitter which is secreted by the adrenal glands and certain neurons in response to panic, threat, or fear (fight or flight response). Stress is another stimulus for secretion of this hormone.

Adrenal Glands

The paired glands located superior to each kidney in the retroperitoneal space are called adrenal (suprarenal) glands. The adrenal glands divided into two structurally and functionally distinct regions which are as follows:

  • Adrenal cortex, which comprises 89–90% of the gland and located peripherally.

  • Adrenal medulla, which is small and centrally located.

A connective tissue capsule covers the gland. The adrenal glands are richly supplied with the blood flow. Steroid hormones are produced by the adrenal cortex which is essential for maintaining electrolyte balance in the body. Complete loss of adrenocortical hormones lead to death due to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance in a few days to week which can be treated...

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References

  • Arnall, D. A., Marker, J. C., Conlee, R. K., & Winder, W. W. (1986). Effect of infusing epinephrine on liver and muscle glycogenolysis during exercise in rats. American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism, 250(6), E641–E649.

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  • Canon, W. B. (1931). Studies on the conditions of activity in endocrine organs xxvii. Evidence that medulliadrenal secretion is not continuous. American Journal of Physiology, 98, 447–453.

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  • Wong, D. L. (2003). Why is the adrenal adrenergic? Endocrine Pathology, 14(1), 25–36.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Molecular Biology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, HBNI, Mumbai, India

    Reema Chaudhary

Authors
  1. Reema Chaudhary
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Reema Chaudhary .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oakland University , Rochester, MI, USA

    Jennifer Vonk

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University Department of Psychology, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. The Institute for Marine Mammal Studies, Gulfport, MS, USA

    Mystera M. Samuelson

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Chaudhary, R. (2019). Adrenalin. In: Vonk, J., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Animal Cognition and Behavior. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1439-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47829-6_1439-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-47829-6

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