Adrenals - The Cortex

The cortex is a region rich in enzymatic activity, where cholesterol is converted into the main steroid hormones. These are cortisol, aldosterone and the sex steroids (principally the androgens androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate, DHEAS). Each layer produces one of these, although all the layers produce small amounts of the remaining hormones. The principal sites of production of each hormone are:

Click on a hormone for a more detailed explanation.