What is the main function of the adrenal glands?

The adrenal glands play a crucial role in the body’s response to stress by secreting hormones, particularly catecholamines like adrenaline (epinephrine) and norepinephrine, as well as glucocorticoids like cortisol. These hormones help prepare the body for a "fight or flight" response during stressful situations, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and energy availability. This is a fundamental part of the body's endocrine system, where the adrenal glands help regulate various physiological processes in response to internal and external stimuli.

While regulation of glucose levels is an important physiological process, it is primarily the function of the pancreas and other hormones like insulin and glucagon. The production of red blood cells is chiefly managed by the bone marrow, with erythropoietin (a hormone) stimulating this process. Blood filtration is mainly the role of the kidneys, which remove waste products from the blood and regulate fluid balance. Thus, the primary focus and unique function of the adrenal glands relate directly to hormone secretion in response to stress.