What is the primary function of the adrenal cortex?

The adrenal cortex is primarily responsible for the regulation of the body's stress response. It produces a variety of steroid hormones, including cortisol, which plays a crucial role in how the body manages stress, responds to inflammation, and regulates metabolism. When the body experiences stress, the adrenal cortex releases cortisol as part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis response. This hormone helps to increase glucose availability, modulate immune response, and maintain homeostasis during stressful situations.

In contrast, producing insulin is a function of the pancreas; gamete production occurs in the gonads (ovaries and testes), and heart rate is regulated by the autonomic nervous system and influenced by the hormones produced by the adrenal medulla, rather than the adrenal cortex. Thus, the primary role of the adrenal cortex centers on stress response through hormone production.