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​B5 J) Adrenaline

Adrenaline is produced by the adrenal glands. There are two adrenal glands in the body, and they are located just above the kidneys. Whenever you are excited, nervous or stressed, your brain sends nerve impulses to the adrenal glands, which causes the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline into the bloodstream.
 
Adrenaline is often referred to as the “fight or flight” hormone. Adrenaline is given this name because it prepares the body to either fight what has caused adrenaline to be released, or to run away from what has caused adrenaline to be released. However, adrenaline is also released when we are nervous, sacred, exercising and in many other situations.
 
The target organs for adrenaline are the heart, the lungs and the liver. Here are the effects of adrenaline on the body:

• Heart – the heart beats faster and with a greater force; heart rate and blood pressure both increase. This is so that more oxygen and glucose are delivered to muscle cells via the bloodstream. The oxygen and glucose will be used by muscle cells to undertake respiration reactions, which produces the energy needed to “fight or flight” whatever is causing adrenaline to be released
• Lungs – breathing rate increases so that more oxygen enters the lungs, which results in more oxygen entering the bloodstream; this oxygen will be used for respiration reactions. Also, the volume of air taken in from each breath increases for the same reason
• Liver – the liver breaks down glycogen into glucose, which raises blood glucose levels, so that there is plenty of glucose available for respiration reactions
• Your eyes dilate slightly 

​All of these effects prepare the body to respond to the event that has caused adrenaline to be released.