What causes adrenal insufficiency Primary adrenal insufficiency is most often caused when your immune system attacks your healthy adrenal glands by mistake.

As a result the adrenal glands don’t make enough cortisol. In times of stress, the storage zone shrinks and the active zone thickens to secrete more hormones. This starts when the pituitary gland doesn’t make enough of the hormone ACTH (adrenocorticotropin). Cortisol, androgen and estrogen are produced in the inner layer (active zone) and stored in the middle layer (storage zone). Aldosterone is produced in the outer layer. The adrenal cortex is made up of inner, middle and outer layers. It controls female reproduction and sexual development, including the development of female characteristics such as the growth of breasts. The cortex produces steroid hormones including glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and adrenal. Androgens are needed to make estrogen.Įstrogen is a female sex hormone. The adrenal gland is made up of the cortex and medulla.

Androgens also control the development of male physical traits, such as deep voice, body and facial hair growth and body shape. Androgens help the organs of the reproductive system grow, develop and function. The adrenal glands of both men and women make androgens, but in different amounts. It also causes changes in metabolism to help the body manage stress, and it suppresses the immune system.Īndrogens are male sex hormones. The most important are aldosterone (a mineralocorticoid), cortisol (a glucocorticoid), and androgens and estrogen (sex hormones).Īldosterone helps the kidneys control the amount of salt in the blood and tissues of the body.Ĭortisol helps the body manage and use carbohydrates, protein and fat. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone produced by the zona fasciculata that plays several important roles in the body. The adrenal cortex produces several hormones.

What hormone does adrenal gland produce