Adrenocortical function and adrenal insufficiency

The adrenal cortex and gonads arise in common from the urogenital ridge and share a common pathway to androgen and estrogen. Except in virilizing and feminizing disorders of the adrenal cortex, the androgenestrogen pathway in the adrenal cortex plays a minor role compared to that in the ovary or testis. The dominant function of the adrenal cortex is the biosynthesis of cortisol and aldosterone.