Structure:
Epinephrine is a biogenic amine hormone secreted by chromaffin cells. These
are postganglionic sympathetic neurons, and are thus part of the sympathetic
nervous system.
Function:
Epinephrine, a catecholamine based upon it's chemical structure, is a potent
stimulant to blood sugar, to constriction of arteries,
raising blood pressure, to increasing the heart
rate, and redistributing blood flow to essential organs, the brain,
heart, and the skeletal
muscles. This set of responses has been called the "fight, or flight"
response. It shares some of the functions with norepinephrine.
