Kaplan Nursing Entrance Exam Practice 2026 – Comprehensive Prep

Corticosteroids are primarily responsible for the effects of stress in the body because they are secreted by the adrenal glands during a stress response. When faced with stressors, the hypothalamus triggers the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which then stimulates the adrenal glands to produce corticosteroids, such as cortisol. These hormones help the body manage stress by increasing glucose availability, suppressing inflammation, and modulating various bodily functions.

While insulin, testosterone, and estrogen play important roles in various physiological processes, they do not specifically target the body's stress response in the same way that corticosteroids do. For example, insulin regulates blood glucose levels and is primarily involved in metabolism, while testosterone and estrogen are involved in reproductive functions and secondary sexual characteristics. Thus, corticosteroids are the key players in mediating the physiological changes that occur in response to stress.