The adrenal glands are small, triangular-shaped glands located on top of the kidneys. These glands are responsible for releasing several hormones into the bloodstream, including adrenaline, cortisol, and aldosterone. Adrenal glands are also known as suprarenal glands, due to their location above the kidneys. They are often referred to as simply adrenal, or sometimes called the "stress glands" due to their role in the body's response to stress. Another common synonym for adrenal glands is the "endocrine glands," which refers to their function of producing and secreting hormones into the bloodstream. Additionally, they are sometimes referred to as the "adrenals" or "adrenal cortex" to differentiate between the two separate layers of the gland.