The body has two adrenal glands, one near the top of each kidney. The inner part, medulla of the adrenal glands secretes hormones, such as adrenaline (epinephrine) that help control blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, and other activities also regulated by the sympathetic nervous system. The outer part, cortex, secretes different hormones, including corticosteroids (cortisone-like hormones, such as cortisol and mineralocorticoids (particularly aldosterone, which controls blood pressure and the levels of salt and potassium in the body). The adrenal glands also play a role in stimulating the production of androgens (testosteroneand similar hormones).
