Epinephrine

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/epinephrine

1. What is the chemical class?
2. What is the primary site of synthesis?
3. What is epinephrine and why does it help my body when I'm scared or in danger?
4. How does epinephrine make my heart beat faster and help me breathe?

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical class?Catecholamine hormone and neurotransmitter
2. What is the primary site of synthesis?Adrenal medulla
3. What is epinephrine and why does it help my body when I'm scared or in danger?Epinephrine is a hormone made in the adrenal glands that gives your body a quick burst of energy. It helps you react fast by speeding up your heart and making your lungs open wider.
4. How does epinephrine make my heart beat faster and help me breathe?When epinephrine enters the bloodstream, it attaches to special receptors on cells. This makes the heart beat faster and the airways in the lungs widen, so you can get more oxygen.

Catecholamine: A group of hormones and neurotransmitters derived from amino acids, including Epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine.
Adrenergic Receptors: Proteins on cell surfaces that bind to Epinephrine and norepinephrine, mediating their effects.
Anaphylaxis: A severe, systemic allergic reaction characterized by rapid onset and potential for life-threatening airway obstruction and cardiovascular collapse.