What is primarily produced in the adrenal medulla?

The adrenal medulla is primarily responsible for producing catecholamines, with epinephrine being the most significant among them. This hormone plays a critical role in the body's fight-or-flight response, which is activated during stressful situations. When the body senses danger or stress, the adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine into the bloodstream, leading to various physiological responses such as increased heart rate, dilation of airways, and enhanced blood flow to muscles.

In contrast, cortisol, which is produced in the adrenal cortex, is involved in metabolism regulation and the response to stress over a longer term. Similarly, sex hormones also originate from the adrenal cortex and are not main products of the adrenal medulla. Ephedrine, while it is related to the actions of epinephrine, is not produced by the adrenal medulla itself; it is a synthetic compound often used in medicine as a bronchodilator or for other therapeutic purposes. Therefore, the correct understanding is that the primary product of the adrenal medulla is indeed epinephrine.