Final answer:
Epinephrine and norepinephrine increase blood glucose levels by promoting glycogen breakdown and glucose release from the liver, and by improving oxygen availability, they help prioritize blood supply to essential organs during stress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, secreted by the adrenal glands, play a crucial role in regulating blood glucose levels during stressful situations. They achieve this by stimulating glycogen breakdown in the liver and skeletal muscles, a process known as glycogenolysis, and by inducing glucose release from liver cells, adding to the glucose already present in the bloodstream. Furthermore, these hormones enhance the heart rate and dilate the bronchioles, which increases oxygen availability to cells and helps in prioritizing blood supply to essential organs while reducing it to less critical ones during a stress response.
Epinephrine and norepinephrine are part of the body's fight-or-flight response, preparing the body for rapid action by increasing blood sugar and oxygen levels. While they increase blood sugar and oxygen supply to vital organs, they simultaneously decrease blood flow to organs like the skin, digestive system, and kidneys, which are not as crucial in emergency situations. This selective vasoconstriction ensures that the body's resources are directed where they're most needed.