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Stress
There are two main pathways in which your body responds to stress. You have two adrenal glands perched on top of your kidneys each gland has two distinctly separate sections
- The adrenal cortex
- The adrenal medulla
These two sections, when stimulated, release different sets of hormones into your bloodstream and are controlled by two differing pathways.
- Hypothalamic ~ autonomic nervous system ~ adrenal medulla pathway
- Hypothalamic ~ pituitary ~ adrenal cortex pathway
Brain
Cortex + Limbic Systems
Neural control
pathway via the autonomic system
Adrenal Cortex
Adrenal Medulla
The autonomic centres in the brain stem are controlled by higher brain structures.
a network of nerve pathways from centres in the lower part of the brain (brain stem) which connect to organs and various glands of the body including the adrenal medulla.
The autonomic nervous system maintains the normal functioning of the body systems in response to demand.
The autonomic nervous system has two sub divisions each have nerve pathways leading to the internal organs of the body:
The sympathetic sub division creates a pattern of body arousal, heart and blood pressure increase, carbohydrate and fats are mobilised, digestive tract activity slows. This pattern of activity is known as ‘sympathetic arousal’.
The parasympathetic sub division creates a pattern of body calm and relaxation, restoring the heart rate and blood pressure to normal levels while digestion activity speeds up.
The autonomic nervous system stimulates the release of the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline into the blood stream.
This body system is the usual actions of every day life.
ACTH in the
bloodstream
Brain Stem
The adrenal cortex pathway is activated only when higher brain centres evaluate a situation as stressful then instructs the hypothalamus to prompt the pituitary gland to release the hormone ‘adrenocorticotrophic’ (ACTH) into the bloodstream.
ACTH travels via the blood stream to the adrenal cortex.
ACTH stimulates the release of hormones called corticosteroids from the adrenal cortex into the bloodstream.
There are a large number of corticosteroids which have a range of effects on the body and are a vital part of the stress response.
This body pathway stimulation is like putting your foot hard down onto the accelerator of your car when you are cruising along.
Adrenal cortex pathway
Adrenal medulla pathway
Anterior lobe of the
