Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
The hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex axis or stress axis represents a complex sequence of direct influences and feedback loops between three hormonal glands :
- the hypothalamus ,
- the pituitary gland (a pea-shaped structure under the hypothalamus)
- and the cortex of the adrenal glands (small, conical organs that sit on top of the kidneys)
The interactions between these organs form the HPA axis (English HPA axis ). It is a major part of the hormonal system that controls responses to stress and regulates many processes in the body; including digestion , immune system , mood and emotions , sexuality , energy storage and use. It is the common mechanism for interactions between glands, hormones, and parts of the midbrain that mediate General Adaptation Syndrome.
literature
- C. Heim, G. Meinlschmidt: Biological foundations. In: U. Ehlert (Ed.): Behavioral medicine. Springer, Berlin 2003, ISBN 3-540-42929-8 , pp. 17-94.
- Ulrike Ehlert, Roland von Känel (ed.): Psychoendocrinology and psychoimmunology. Springer, Berlin et al. 2011, ISBN 978-3-642-16963-2 .
Individual evidence
- ↑ Hans Selye: Stress without distress . Lippincott, Philadelphia 1974, ISBN 978-0-397-01026-4 .