adrenal anatomy and physiology

Question 1

anatomy of adrenal glands

Answer 1

medulla inside cortex outside

cortex made of 3 layers:
- zona glomerulsoa
- zona fasculata
- zona reticularis

Question 2

What does the adrenal gland secrete and from which layers?

Answer 2

zona glomerulosa - androgens: testosterone and eostrogen

zona fasciculata: glucocorticoids: cortisol and cortisone

zona reticularis: mineralocorticoids: aldosterone

medulla:
catecholamines: epinephrine and norepinephrine

Question 3

physiology of HPA-axis

Answer 3

hypothalamus - CRH
anterior pituitary - ACTH
adrenal cortex - cortisol

cortisol has negative feedback effects on both hypothalamus and anterior pituitary

Question 4

cortisol circadian rhythm

Answer 4

• cortisol highest early morning - healps the body to wake up
• lowest in the evening allowing the body to rest and recover

Question 5

factors affecting cortisol rhythm

Answer 5

stress
sleep pattens
illness

Question 6

normal cortisol levels

Answer 6

Morning: 5–25 µg/dL (138–690 nmol/L).
Evening: < 10 µg/dL (< 276 nmol/L).