The adrenal medulla secretes which substances?

• A. Glucocorticoids
• B. Mineralocorticoids
• C. Catecholamines
• D. Androgens

Answer: (C)

The adrenal medulla releases catecholamines—epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline)—into the bloodstream in response to sympathetic activation. These hormones rapidly prepare the body for a fight-or-flight response: increasing heart rate and contractility, raising blood pressure, dilating airways, and boosting glucose and fatty acid release for quick energy. The adrenal cortex, not the medulla, makes glucocorticoids (like cortisol) and mineralocorticoids (like aldosterone) as well as androgens, so those substances are not secreted by the medulla.