Prepare for the Veterinary Assistant Exam with our comprehensive quiz. Study with flashcards, multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Ensure you're ready to excel on your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What is the main role of the adrenal glands?

  1. Regulate digestion

  2. Secrete hormones related to stress response

  3. Control muscle movement

  4. Absorb nutrients

The correct answer is: Secrete hormones related to stress response

The main role of the adrenal glands is to secrete hormones related to the stress response. These glands, located on top of each kidney, are responsible for producing a variety of hormones that are crucial for the body's response to stress, including cortisol, adrenaline, and norepinephrine. Cortisol helps manage metabolism and immune response during stressful situations, while adrenaline and norepinephrine prepare the body for a fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate and energy availability. Other functions of the adrenal glands include regulating blood pressure and electrolyte balance through hormones such as aldosterone. The glands are vital for maintaining homeostasis in response to various stressors, whether physical, emotional, or environmental. This is why option B accurately captures the primary function of the adrenal glands compared to the other choices, which pertain to different bodily functions that are not directly related to the adrenal glands' critical role in stress management.