Catecholamines: Fight or Flight — NEET Biology
✅ Asked in NEET 2025The adrenal medulla secretes two hormones called adrenaline or epinephrine and noradrenaline or norepinephrine. These are commonly called as catecholamines. Adrenaline and noradrenaline are rapidly secreted in response to stress of any kind and during emergency situations and are called emergency hormones or hormones of Fight or Flight. These hormones increase alertness, pupillary dilation, piloerection (raising of hairs), sweating etc. Both the hormones increase the heart beat, the strength of heart contraction and the rate of respiration. Catecholamines also stimulate the breakdown of glycogen resulting in
NTA tests that adrenaline and noradrenaline are emergency hormones secreted by the adrenal medulla during stress, triggering the 'fight or flight' response with effects like increased heart rate, breathing, alertness, and pupil dilation. Students often confuse this with glucagon or insulin functions, or forget that these are catecholamines (not steroids). The key trap: mixing up which gland produces them (adrenal medulla, not cortex) and their rapid secretion during stress versus slow hormonal effects. Remember: adrenaline = epinephrine, noradrenaline = norepinephrine, both increase glycogen breakdown for quick energy, and they work immediately on the nervous system during emergencies.
This paragraph was tested 4 times in NEET.
Hormone involved in ‘fight or flight’ response is: (NEET 2025)
Which of the following hormone acts as a neurotransmitter as well as a hormone? (NEET 2023)
Which hormone is also called ‘emergency hormone’ or ‘fight or flight hormone’? (NEET 2023)
Match List-I with List-II: List-I: List-I: A. Epinephrine B. Thyroxine C. Oxytocin D. Glucagon List-II: I. Hyperglycemia II. Smooth muscle contraction III. Basal metabolic rate IV. Emergency hormone Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
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