General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Definition

General adaptation syndrome is a three-stage response that the body goes through when exposed to stress, involving alarm, resistance, and exhaustion phases. It highlights how stress impacts the adrenal glands and the entire endocrine system's role in managing stress.

Related terms

Cortisol: A steroid hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress as part of the body's fight-or-flight mechanism.

Adrenal glands: Glands located above the kidneys that produce hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which are crucial for managing stress and metabolic processes.

Fight: or-Flight Response - A physiological reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat to survival, initiating immediate release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands