Sapolsky RM. Poverty's remains. The Sciences (NY) 1991; 31: 8-10

An essay pointing out that adrenal glands in the cadavers that originated from poorhouses and were used to teach anatomy a hundred years ago were large. Occasionally a small gland appeared, and occasioned inventing a disease, "idiopathic adrenal atrophy" to explain it. Adrenal glands secrete stress hormones, and enlarge to work more under stress. The small gland came from richer people. These are now considered the normal size.  

Keywords

• cortisol
• glucocorticoids
• hierarchy
• poverty
• social stratification
• socioeconomic status
• stress