The outermost layer of the adrenal gland derived from mesoderm situated on top of the kidneys that releases corticosteroid hormones into the blood stream in response to stress. Some cells in the adrenal cortex form part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis.
See Adrenal medulla, Androgen, Autonomic nervous system (ANS), Corticosteroids, Cortisol, Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), Estrogen, Hormones, Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, Sex ratio, Testosterone