7.7 Adrenal Glands, Adrenaline & Cortisol Flashcards
What TYPE of hormones does the adrenal cortex produce? What about the adrenal medulla?
Cortex: Steroid (Androgens, Glucocorticoids, Mineralocorticoids)
What are the three zones of the adrenal cortex, from the outside to the inside?
- Zona Reticularis
- Zona Fasciculus
- Zona Glomerulosa
Where in the adrenal glands are catecholamines secreted from? Which catecholamines are secreted?
- Secreted from adrenal medulla
- Noradrenaline and andrenaline are secreted
What hormones are released from the adrenal medulla? What stimulates this? What is the result?
- Catecholamines (mainly adrenaline)
- Sympathetic stimulation
- Helps resist stress
What hormones are released from the zona reticularis? What stimulates this? What is the result?
- Androgens (mainly dehydroepiandrosterone)
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone
- Mostly male sex hormone
What hormones are released from the zona fasciculata? What stimulates this? What is the result?
- Glucocorticoids (cortisol)
- Adrenocorticotropic hormone
- Helps cope with stress; increases metabolic rate
What hormones are released from the zona glomerulosa? What stimulates this? What is the result?
- Mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)
- Angiotensin
- Regulates Na+, K+ and water concentration in blood
Which cells in the adrenal medulla release adrenaline and noradrenaline?
Chromaffin cells
In fundamental terms, what is the adrenal medulla? What does this make chromaffin cells?
- Modified sympathetic ganglions
- Therefore chromaffin cells are modified postganglionic neurons with no axons
How much adrenaline and noradrenaline is released from the adrenal medulla upon acetylcholine release from the preganglionic fibre?
Five times more adrenaline than noradrenaline
Why do neurons release noradrenaline, but NOT adrenaline?
Neurons lack the necessary enzyme to convert noradrenline to adrenaline; the adrenal medulla does not
Recall the five types of stress
- Physical
- Chemical
- Psychological
- Physiological
- Social
Outline Hans Selye’s GAS
- Alarm reaction
- Resistance stage
- Exhaustion (depletion of resources)
Outline the revised GAS
- Alarm reaction (sympathetic response); varies depending on sex, and the stressor itself
- Resistance stage: persist and adapt
- Allostatic overload: Chronic problems arise due to stress mediators themselves
Describe the two main components of the alarm reaction of GAS
- Noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerve terminals (some spillage into blood)
- Release of adrenaline and nor-adrenaline from adrenal medulla
Describe the actions of catecholamines on the heart
- Increased heart rate and contractility
Describe the actions of catecholamines on the lung
Bronchodilation