Epinephrine, also known as adrenaline, is a hormone and neurotransmitter that is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress or danger. It plays a crucial role in the body's fight or flight response, which is the body's natural reaction to perceived threats.
When epinephrine is released, it causes several physiological changes in the body that help to prepare it for action. These include:
1. Increased heart rate and blood pressure: Epinephrine causes the heart to beat faster and pump more blood throughout the body. This helps to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and other tissues more quickly.
2. Dilation of the airways: Epinephrine relaxes the muscles surrounding the airways, making it easier to breathe and increasing the flow of oxygen to the lungs.
3. Increased blood flow to the muscles: Epinephrine diverts blood flow away from non-essential organs, such as the digestive system, and towards the muscles. This provides the muscles with a ready supply of oxygen and nutrients to help them respond to the perceived threat.
4. Increased blood sugar levels: Epinephrine triggers the release of stored glucose from the liver and muscles, providing the body with a quick source of energy for immediate use.
5. Dilated pupils: Epinephrine causes the pupils to dilate, improving vision and allowing the individual to better detect potential threats.
Overall, the release of epinephrine helps to prepare the body to respond quickly and effectively to stressful or dangerous situations. Once the threat has passed, epinephrine levels return to normal, and the body's systems return to their usual state.
The role of the neurotransmitter epinephrine ( adrenaline)
What it caused in the body when released
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