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| The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) also known
as the limbic-hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (LHPA axis)
and, occasionally, as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal-
gonadotropic axis, refers to a complex set of direct influences
and feedback interactions between: the hypothalamus, a hollow,
funnel-shaped part of the brain; the pituitary gland, a pea-
shaped structure located below the hypothalamus; and the adrenal
or suprarenal gland, a small, paired, pyramidal organ located at
the top of each kidney. The fine, homeostatic interactions
between these three organs constitute the HPA axis, a major part
of the neuroendocrine system that controls reactions to stress
and regulates various body processes including digestion, the
immune system, mood and sexuality, and energy usage. Species
from humans to the most ancient organisms share components of
the HPA axis. It is the mech