1 Think of this as being like the skin of the avocado. Although not strictly a part of the adrenal glands themselves, the primary function of this layer is to enclose and protect each of the adrenals.  The Cortex. You might compare this layer to the flesh of an avocado.
The average lifespan for a hammy is about 2-3 years and they are very sweet!! The average life span for a hamster in general is about 2-4 years, but different breeds live differents spans. Teddy bears: 2-3 yrs. Syrian: 1 1/2- 3 yrs. Cambells, russians & other dwarfs: 1-3 yrs.
A normal hamster would live to about 2-6 years old. Well, Russian hamsters can live up to 2 1/2 years. But Syrian hamsters on the other hand can sometimes live up to 2 years. P.S Roborovski hamsters can live up to 3 1/2 years if cared well.