Final answer:
Adrenalin, composed of epinephrine and norepinephrine, elevates blood pressure and blood sugar levels as part of the body's "fight-or-flight" response, preparing it to handle stress by increasing the availability of energy and oxygen to critical organs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The release of adrenalin (epinephrine and norepinephrine) increases blood pressure and elevates blood sugar levels. These hormones are part of the body's acute stress response system, often referred to as the "fight-or-flight" response. When a stressful situation is encountered, these catecholamines are released by the adrenal medulla into the bloodstream. They act on various tissues to prepare the body to respond to the threat.
Epinephrine and norepinephrine lead to several physiological changes: they increase blood glucose levels by stimulating glycogen breakdown in the liver and skeletal muscles. This provides energy rapidly available for the body to use. Concurrently, they act on the smooth muscles of blood vessels, causing constriction or dilation depending on the tissue type, which generally leads to an increase in blood pressure. This shunts blood preferentially to vital organs like the brain, heart, and muscles, while reducing blood flow to less critical areas such as the digestive system and skin.
In summary, these hormones increase blood supply to essential organs and increase oxygen and glucose availability, thereby enhancing the body's ability to tackle the stress.