Lesson 1
Cells in the center
Your two adrenal glands sit on top of your kidneys. Chromaffin cells (say KROH-muh-fin) live in the very center, called the medulla (say meh-DULL-uh).
They are packed with tiny bubbles full of adrenaline, ready to go at a moment's notice.
Chromaffin cells are close cousins of nerve cells. Nerves from your spinal cord reach right up to them and tell them when to let go.
Wow!Their name comes from a scientist's trick: when stained with chromium (say KROH-mee-um), they turn brown. "Chrom-affin" means "likes chromium"!
Lesson 2
Ready for action!
When you get a big scare or a surprise, your nerves send a fast message to the chromaffin cells. In seconds they pour adrenaline into your blood. They also make a bit of a hormone like it called noradrenaline.
Adrenaline gets your body ready for action. This is called fight or flight:
- Your heart beats faster and harder.
- You breathe faster.
- More sugar goes into your blood for quick energy.
When the moment passes, your body calms back down.
Try thisScroll up to the 3D model and press Fight or flight!. Next time you finish a fast race, feel your heart pounding. Adrenaline is part of that!