A hormone, the primary glucocortoid (aka hydrocortisone), secreted by the adrenal cortex glands in response to any kind of physical or psychological stress. Cortisol has a fundamental role in metabolism and is essential in maintaining normal physiological functions in the liver, heart and lungs, kidneys, the immune system and the brain. Low or high levels can result in functional impairments in one or more of these systems.
See Addison’s disease, Adrenal cortex, Adrenal gland, Cholesterol, Corticosteroids, Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), Fetal programming, Hormones, Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, Metabolism, Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Stress (or adrenal) hormones