Hypothalamus, anterior pituitary and adrenal cortex

Stress axis (HPA) mnemonics

The stress axis: three tiers, one brake.

The three tiers

CRH → ACTH → Cortisol: hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal cortex

The two failures

Cushing = cortisol excess · Addison = cortisol gone, ACTH shouting

A mnemonic only sticks once you have used it. The quiz and the rebuild below both draw on these exact steps.