Two triangular endocrine glands located on top of each kidney that produce essential hormones including cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline for stress response and metabolism regulation.
From Latin ad meaning 'near' or 'on' and renes meaning 'kidneys,' literally meaning 'on the kidneys,' which perfectly describes their anatomical position as cap-like structures sitting atop each kidney.
Your adrenal glands are like having a built-in emergency response system - they can dump massive amounts of adrenaline into your bloodstream in milliseconds, instantly increasing your heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability. Without these glands, you literally couldn't survive stress, which is why Addison's disease (adrenal insufficiency) was universally fatal before hormone replacement therapy!
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