Adrenaline

Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and neurotransmitter whose name derives from the Latin ad renes, “from the kidney.” Adrenaline belongs to a class of substances called catecholamines, which are water-soluble chemical compounds that circulate in the blood bound to plasma proteins. As a hormone, it is produced by the adrenal glands.

Adrenaline plays a very important role in both the central nervous system and the autonomic nervous system. It is involved in the so-called fight-or-flight response, which occurs in response to a perceived dangerous event. Indeed, the effects of adrenaline include several functions that prepare the body to cope with potential danger: gastrointestinal relaxation, bronchial dilation, increased heart rate and cardiac output, directing blood flow to the muscles, liver, myocardium, and brain, and increased blood glucose levels, which is the measure of glucose concentration in the blood.