Adrenal Medulla

The adrenal medulla develops early in the fetus from the primitive nervous system. The formation of the adrenal gland is actually not complete until the end of the third year of age. The adrenal medulla is supplied by a group of nerves from the sympathetic nervous system, and through this portion of the nervous system, the adrenal medulla becomes activated by the splanchnic nerves and is able to produce the hormone necessary for greater physical performance - the "fight or flight" response.