Cortisol, a steroid hormone involved in the stress response and metabolism regulation, is secreted by which endocrine gland in the human body?

Introduction / Context:
Endocrine glands secrete hormones that regulate many body functions, including metabolism, growth, and the response to stress. Cortisol is a well known steroid hormone that plays a key role in how the body responds to stress and manages energy supply. Many exam questions ask which gland produces cortisol, because this helps students connect hormone names with specific glands.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The hormone in question is cortisol.
• The options include thyroid, pituitary, adrenal, and parathyroid glands.
• We assume standard endocrine system anatomy and physiology.
• The question asks which gland secretes cortisol.

Concept / Approach:
Cortisol is produced by the adrenal cortex, which is the outer layer of the adrenal glands. Each adrenal gland sits on top of a kidney. Cortisol helps regulate glucose metabolism, blood pressure, immune responses, and the body's reaction to stress. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones that control metabolic rate, the pituitary gland produces several trophic hormones that control other glands (including ACTH, which stimulates cortisol release), and the parathyroid glands regulate calcium levels. Therefore, the specific gland that secretes cortisol is the adrenal gland.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify cortisol as a glucocorticoid hormone associated with stress response and metabolism. Step 2: Recall that glucocorticoids are secreted by the adrenal cortex, part of the adrenal glands. Step 3: Remember the position of the adrenal glands, which sit like caps on top of each kidney. Step 4: Note that the pituitary gland produces ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone), which stimulates the adrenal cortex to release cortisol, but the pituitary itself does not secrete cortisol. Step 5: The thyroid and parathyroid glands secrete thyroid hormones and parathyroid hormone, respectively, and are not the source of cortisol. Thus, the adrenal gland is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Endocrinology charts usually group adrenal cortex hormones into three classes: glucocorticoids like cortisol, mineralocorticoids like aldosterone, and small amounts of sex hormones. They clearly label these as adrenal hormones. The pituitary gland, by contrast, is identified as the master gland that releases hormones controlling other glands, including ACTH that targets the adrenal cortex. Thyroid and parathyroid glands are shown in the neck and associated with metabolic rate and calcium balance, not with cortisol. This supports choosing the adrenal gland as the source of cortisol.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Thyroid gland in the neck is wrong because it secretes thyroxine and triiodothyronine, hormones that regulate metabolic rate, not cortisol. Pituitary gland at the base of the brain is incorrect because it produces ACTH and other hormones but does not itself produce cortisol. Parathyroid gland behind the thyroid is also wrong because it secretes parathyroid hormone for calcium regulation, not cortisol.

Common Pitfalls:
A common pitfall is to confuse the gland that stimulates cortisol release (the pituitary via ACTH) with the gland that actually secretes cortisol (the adrenal). Some students also mix up adrenal with thyroid because both are involved in metabolism. To avoid these errors, remember the hierarchy: the pituitary sends ACTH to the adrenal cortex, which then releases cortisol into the bloodstream. The adrenal glands, sitting on the kidneys, are the true source of cortisol.

Final Answer:
The correct choice is Adrenal gland located above the kidneys, because cortisol is secreted by the adrenal cortex as part of the body's response to stress and in regulation of metabolism.