1. abonormally low GH levels à pituitary dwarfism
normal GH, but lack of GH-R or IGFs à dwarfism as well
abnormally high GH prior to pubery à gigantism
abnormally high GH after puberty à acromegaly (thickening, sharp feat.)

2. medulla in the middle, cortex on the outside; medulla secretes catecholomines (epinephrine) and cortex secretes glucocorticoids (cortisol)

3. sympathetic nervous system extends through the cortex and into the medulla controlling it; glucocorticoid release from the cortex is stimulated by ACTH

4. epinephrine, aka adrenaline, accelerates cellular energy utilization and mobilize energy reserves; cortisol accelerates the rates of glucose synthesis and glycogen formation, increasing glucose in the blood

alarm phase: sympathetic neurons innervating the adrenal medulla, stimulating the release of epinephrine or norepinephrine, or both. This response is extremely rapid, with equally rapid effects including increased heart rate, increased vasodilation in muscle, and energy mobilization.
This response is geared to coping with short term stresses, like fighting, or the initial phase of an unexpected stimulus.
resistance phase:: usually occurs 1-5 minutes later, if the stress persists. This phase is mediated by the release of CRF from the hypothalamus, ACTH from the anterior pituitary, and glucocorticoid release from the adrenal cortex.
The glucocorticoids include cortisol, which stimulates the liver to increase blood glucose, protein breakdown to increase amino acids in the blood, and fat breakdown to increase fatty acids in the blood. It also inhibits inflammation and the immune response.
exhaustion occurs if the source of stress persists in the long term. If plasma glucocorticoids are maintained too high for too long, a number of debilitating physiological effects result, including suppression of appetite, sleep, immunity, sex drive, and GH release, and an increase in irritability and possibly neural degeneration.