On top of each kidney sits a small gland called an adrenal gland. Its outer layer has cells that help your body save salt and water.
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You have two adrenal glands (say uh-DREE-nul). One sits on top of each kidney, like a little hat.
The outer part of each adrenal gland has three layers. The zona glomerulosa (say glow-mair-yoo-LOW-suh) is the thin layer on the very outside.
Its cells sit in small, round clumps. That's where the name comes from: "glomus" means "ball" in Latin.
Each adrenal layer makes its own kind of hormone, like three different kitchens stacked on top of each other!
These cells make a hormone called aldosterone (say al-DOSS-ter-own).
Aldosterone travels to your kidneys. It tells them to hold on to salt instead of letting it out in pee. Where salt goes, water follows, so your body keeps water too.
This helps keep the right amount of blood in your blood tubes, so your blood pressure stays steady. Aldosterone also helps your body get rid of extra potassium.
Scroll up to the 3D model and press Send aldosterone.