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| Cortisol | |
| Also known as: hydrocortisone | |
| What is it? | |
 Cortisol (hydrocortisone, C21H30O5 ), is a corticosteroid hormone
synthesized in a region of the adrenal glands called the zona fasciculata.The amount of cortisol present in the serum (the liquid part of blood) undergoes diurnal (Diurnal means daily, especially pertaining to actions which are completed in 24 hours and are repeated every 24 hours). variation, with the highest levels present in the early morning, and lower levels in the evening, several hours after the onset of sleep. Information about the light/dark cycle is transmitted from the retina to the paired suprachiasmatic nuclei in the hypothalamus. Changed patterns of the serum cortisol levels have been observed in connection with abnormal ACTH levels, clinical depression, psychological stress, and such physiological stressors as hypoglycemia, illness, fever, trauma, surgery, fear, pain, physical exertion or extremes of temperature. There is also significant individual variation, although a given person tends to have consistent rhythms. Some effects of cortisol being secreted into the bloodstream are an increase in blood pressure and glucose concentrations. Also it increases the glycogen formation in the liver (Freeman, 2002). The release of cortisol inhibits functioning of the immune system, and bone formation. |
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