Epinephrine

Epinephrine, also called adrenaline, is a hormone and neurotransmitter that rapidly prepares the body for action by activating adrenergic receptors.

Adrenergic receptor: A cell-surface receptor activated by epinephrine and norepinephrine to regulate functions such as heart rate and smooth-muscle tone. Epinephrine produces its effects by binding these receptors.
Anaphylaxis: A rapid, potentially fatal systemic allergic reaction that can impair breathing and circulation. Epinephrine is the first-line medicine for treating this emergency.
Catecholamine: A class of signaling molecules containing a catechol group and an amine, including epinephrine and dopamine. Epinephrine belongs to this chemical family.
Epinephrine versus norepinephrine: A comparison of two related catecholamines with overlapping but distinct receptor effects and physiological roles. Their similar names and functions can obscure differences in receptor activity and clinical use.
John Jacob Abel: An American pharmacologist who isolated an adrenal-gland extract he called epinephrin in the 1890s. His early naming helped establish the American term for the substance.
G protein-coupled receptor: A membrane receptor that transmits signals into cells by activating intracellular G proteins. Most adrenergic receptors relay epinephrine’s signal through this receptor family.
Epinephrine autoinjector: A spring-loaded device that delivers a measured dose of epinephrine into muscle during an emergency. It enables rapid, practical treatment of anaphylaxis outside medical facilities.
Norepinephrine: A catecholamine that functions as a neurotransmitter and hormone in the sympathetic nervous system. It is epinephrine’s close biochemical relative and a major adrenal signaling partner.
Cortisol: A steroid hormone that helps regulate metabolism, immune activity, and longer-term stress responses. Unlike epinephrine’s rapid catecholamine signaling, cortisol acts through steroid-hormone pathways.
Jokichi Takamine: A Japanese chemist who isolated and named adrenaline in crystalline form in 1901. His work established the name commonly used outside the United States.

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