This makes the adrenal cortex produce three main groups of hormones. Levels of cortisol increase when the body is stressed by illness or injury, and this forms an important part of the response to that injury. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid. This hormone is involved in the control of blood pressure, controlling fluid balance by regulating the kidneys filtering of sodium and other salts. The release of aldosterone is regulated both by the pituitary gland and by a system called the renin angiotensin system which stimulates aldosterone production in response to a fall in the volume of blood passing through the kidneys.
Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid.
In the adult adrenal androgens have little role, but they are important in the development of the foetus. They can be important when produced in excess. Problems with the adrenal glands may present as either excessive production of one of these hormones or as a mass, which may cause problems by pressing on or displacing other organs. The glands may produce excess hormone either because they are being stimulated excessively by a problem elsewhere or because a part of the glands has changed so that it is no longer sensitive to its normal controls. Malignant tumours of the adrenal glands do occur but are very rare.