Q 01/05

Why do Americans call the drug 'epinephrine' while Britons say 'adrenaline'?

A) Epinephrine was easier to spell

B) Adrenalin was a registered US trademark

C) US law banned Latin drug names

D) A coin toss at the FDA

Answer · why

B) Adrenalin was a registered US trademark

Epinephrine remains the US Adopted Name and the International Nonproprietary Name, though adrenaline is used everywhere.

Q 02/05

Apart from the adrenal glands, which part of the brain contains neurons that produce adrenaline?

A) The cerebellum

B) The medulla oblongata

C) The hippocampus

D) The frontal lobe

Answer · why

B) The medulla oblongata

The adrenal glands supply almost all of it, though.

Q 03/05

Where in the body are the suprarenal glands?

A) Behind the heart

B) Below the brain

C) Above the kidneys

D) Beside the liver

Answer · why

C) Above the kidneys

Together they weigh only 7 to 10 grams.

Q 04/05

The name 'adrenaline' comes from Latin words meaning what?

A) Fast heart

B) Fear juice

C) Inner fire

D) On the kidney

Answer · why

D) On the kidney

'Epinephrine' means the same thing in Greek: 'upon the kidney'.

Q 05/05

The outer cortex of the adrenal gland produces which class of chemical messenger?

A) Steroids

B) Catecholamines

C) Peptides

D) Prostaglandins

Answer · why

A) Steroids

Cortisol and aldosterone are the best known; the inner medulla supplies adrenaline.