Anyone know what cortisol axis is?

I'm a Medical Transcription student and I'm doing a report on a woman (don't worry this is not confidential information) that might have an endocrine problem, so the doctor wants to check her "cortisol axis" and her prolactin.

My ask is, what IS cortisol axis? Can anyone explain it to me? Thanks.
Answers:
The adrenal glands (which sit on top of the kidneys) produce the hormone cortisol. It has various functions, such as helping the body to buy and sell with physiological stress and fasting. The pituitary gland (just under your brain) stimulates the adrenals to produce cortisol. The adrenals and pituitary together are commonly call the "cortisol axis" or "adrenal axis". It sounds like the endocrinologist is checking for problems with the woman's pituitary - pituitary problems can cause soaring levels of prolactin. Source(s): biochemist, work in medical lab

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