Final answer:
The majority of hormones made in the adrenal cortex are not estrogens, but corticosteroids. The adrenal cortex produces mainly glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens, with only a small amount of androgens being converted to estrogens.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the majority of hormones made in the adrenal cortex are estrogens is false. The adrenal cortex primarily produces corticosteroids, which are steroid hormones divided into three main types: glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, and androgens. While some of the androgens can be converted to estrogens, this is not the main function of the adrenal cortex.
The zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex produces androgens. In adult females, these androgens can be converted to estrogens in the ovaries and may contribute to the sex drive, but in adult males, their function is less understood. In postmenopausal individuals, as the ovaries decline in function, the adrenal androgens take on a greater role in estrogen production.
It is important to note that the adrenal medulla, which is the inner part of the adrenal gland, produces epinephrine and norepinephrine, which are involved in the body's fight-or-flight response to stress, not estrogens. In summary, estrogens are not the primary hormones produced by the adrenal cortex.