The process whose specific outcome is the progression of the adrenal cortex over time, from its formation to the mature structure. The adrenal cortex is located at the periphery of the adrenal gland and controls glucose and electrolyte metabolism, response to stress and sexual development through the production of different classes of steroid hormones (glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and androgens). [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenal_cortex http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12185666 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21115154 ]