The adrenal gland is divided into two main parts: cortex and medulla
Cortex
From outside to inside in order:
- Zona glomerulosa — [[Mineralocorticoid (MC)]], represented by aldosterone. Does this remind you of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system? (RAAS) If you’ve forgotten RAAS, please refer to another tutorial (to be written later) or study on your own
- Zona fasciculata — [[Glucocorticoid (GC)]], generally cortisol, including hydrocortisone, prednisone, etc.
- Zona reticularis — sex corticosteroids (secreting a small amount of androgens and also some cortisol)
Hormones secreted by the cortex are all cholesterol derivatives, collectively called [[steroid hormones]] because their structure is a kind of tetracyclic hydrocarbon compound with a cyclopentanoperhydrophenanthrene nucleus, hence the name steroid hormone (the character “甾” has pictographic meaning: “巛” represents the side chain, “田” represents the four rings)
Medulla
Secretes norepinephrine and epinephrine
For their functions and endocrine regulation, see 待写——肾上腺内分泌（去甲肾上腺素、肾上腺素部分）