Cortisol enables the body to maintain steady supplies of blood sugar.ACTH stimulates the adrenal glands to produce the hormone corticosteroid.The pituitary gland secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH).The hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland.The stressor activates the Hypothalamic Pituitary Axis.The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) System The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) System.Long-term stress is regulated by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) system.Ĭhronic stress response: hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system ( HPA ) system.

These short-term responses are produced by The Fight or Flight Response via the Sympathomedullary Pathway (SAM). When a stress response is triggered, it sends signals to two other structures: the pituitary gland and the adrenal medulla. The hypothalamus in the brain is in charge of the stress response. If the situation is judged as being stressful, the hypothalamus (at the base of the brain) is activated. This decision is made based on sensory input and processing (i.e., the things we see and hear in the situation) and also on stored memories (i.e., what happened the last time we were in a similar situation). Decrease in digestive activity (don’t feel hungry)įirstly, our body judges a situation and decides whether or not it is stressful.Sudden and severe stress generally produces: Stress is a biological and psychological response experienced upon encountering a threat that we feel we do not have the resources to deal with.Ī stressor is a stimulus (or threat) that causes stress, e.g., an exam, divorce, the death of a loved one, moving house, or loss of job.

Adrenal function