(05) Endocrine System - Adrenal Gland

Question 1

1. adrenal gland located at which pole of each kidney?
2. What are the two grossly distinct divisions? Are these separate or combined in lower vertebrates?

(separate embryologic origins)

3. cortex develops from what?
4. medulla develops from what? migrates into what?

Answer 1

1. cranial pole
2. cortex and medulla; separate
3. urogenital area intermediate mesoderm
4. neural crest ectoderm; developing cortical tissue

Question 2

1. capsule comprised of what?
2. continues into gland as what?
3. carrying what and what to the medulla?
4. smooth musle found in capsule of some speicies?

Answer 2

1. connective tissue
2. septa
3. vessels and nerves
4. yes

Question 3

1. Adrenal cortex consists of what type of cells? organized into what?
2. How many cells thick are the cords?
3. Orientation of the cords help in the identification of what?

4. The cortical cells secrete what? And contain what?

5. What occurs to steroid hormones upon synthesis? are they stored?
6. Medullary cells are what kind of neurons? what do they secrete?

Answer 3

1. polyhedral secretory cords; cords
2. two
3. 3 cortical subdivisions

4. steroids; lipid droplets containing cholesterol, fatty acids (precursors for steroid hormones)

5. no storage, released upon synthesis
6. modified post-ganglionic neurons; norepinephrine and epinephrine

Question 4

What are three regions of the cortex?

Answer 4

zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis

Question 5

(Cortex - Three zones)

(zona glomerulosa)

1. next to what?
2. how are cells arranged?
3. Secretion? in response to what?
4. target?
5. Function?

(Clinically)

6. Hypoplasia of this zone called what?
7. Sodium and fluid loss can lead to?

Answer 5

1. capsule
2. cell clusters or loops (arcades) of cells (with lipid droplets)
3. mineralocorticoids (eg aldosterone); angiotensin II (possibly ACTH)
4. kidney (distal tubules)
5. Maintain fluid/electrolyte balance (Na reabsorption/ K excretion)
6. Addison’s
7. shock/death

Question 6

(Cortex - Three Zones)

(Zona Fasciculata)

1. largest or smallest coritcal region?
2. cells arranged how? situated next to what?
3. Secretion? in response to what?
4. target?
5. Function?

(Clinically)

6. what is hyperplasia called?

Answer 6

1. largest
2. radially arranged cell cords (with many lipid droplets); next to capillaries
3. glucocorticoids (cortisol); ACTH from pituitary gland
4. many
5. meatbolic (stimulates gluconeogensis), immunosuppression
6. Cushing’s syndrome

Question 7

(Cortex - Three zones)

(Zona Reticularis)

1. between what and what?
2. network of what?
3. cell size? how many lipid droplets? may accumulate what with aging?
4. Secretion? in response to what?
5. Target?

Answer 7

1. Z. fasiculata and medulla
2. cell cords/capillaries
3. smaller; few lipid droplets; intracellular lipofuscin pigment
4. glucorticoids (and sex hormones eg estrogens and androgens); ACTH
5. many

Question 8

(Medulla)

1. cells derived from what?
2. What type of neurons?
3. each innervated by what type of axon?
4. may ganglion cells also be present?

5-7. secretions?

8.. hoe do you make Epinephrine?

Answer 8

1. neuroectoderm
2. modified post-ganglion sympathetic neurons
3. preganglionic sympathetic axon
4. yes
5. the catecholamines (tyrosine derivative)
6. epinephrine secreting cells (located in peripheral medulla in ruminat, pig, horse)
7. norepinephrine secreting cells; secreted during fight/flight responses
8. methyliation of NE –> E

Question 9

1. How many arteries supply the medulla?
2. direct from what?
3. indirect via what?
4. the indirect vessel carries what produced where? to where? stimulating what?
5. What drains the entire gland?

Answer 9

1. two
2. from branch off capsular artery
3. via vessels draining cortex (adrenomedullary collecting vein)
4. glucocorticoids produced in the cortex; the medullary region; conversion of NE –> E
5. a CENTRAL (adrenomedullary) VEIN