A pair of small glands located on top of each kidney that produce hormones essential for life, including cortisol, adrenaline, and aldosterone. They help regulate metabolism, blood pressure, and stress responses.
From Latin 'ad' meaning near and 'renes' meaning kidneys, literally meaning 'near the kidneys.' The term was coined in the 17th century when anatomists first described these glands' location relative to the kidneys.
Adrenal glands are like the body's emergency response team - they can instantly flood your system with adrenaline for fight-or-flight responses, while also quietly managing your daily metabolism with cortisol. Despite being tiny (about the size of a walnut), losing them is fatal without hormone replacement!
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