Adrenal disorders Flashcards

1
Q

What is Addison’s disease?

A

Adrenal failure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is Cushing’s syndrome characterised by?

A

Excess cortisol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What does the left adrenal vein drain into?

A

Renal vein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does the right adrenal vein drain into?

A

IVC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Why is it important to vaccinate people with HIB and pneumovax before elective left adrenalectomy

A

Left adrenalectomy can result in accidental loss of spleen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What does the zona glomerulosa produce?

A

Aldosterone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What does the zona fasciculata produce?

A

Cortisol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What does the zona reticularis produce?

A

Sex steroids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What does the adrenal medulla produce?

A

Adrenaline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Which hormones produced by the adrenal gland are steroids?

A

Cortisol
Aldosterone
Sex steroids

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the precursor for all steroid hormones?

A

Cholesterol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How is cholesterol used to produce hormones?

A

Modified by enzymes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What is POMC?

A

A large precursor protein

Cleaved to produce ACTH, MSH and endorphins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are the causes of Addison’s disease?

A

Autoimmune

Tuberculosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What occurs as adrenal glands begin to fail?

A

Pituitary increases production of ACTH and MSH to support production of cortisol
But adrenal glands can’t produce cortisol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does high levels of MSH cause?

A

Increased pigmentation

17
Q

What are the features of Addison’s disease?

A
Increased pigmentation
Autoimmune vitiligo may coexist
No cortisol or aldosterone so low BP
Low sodium
High potassium
18
Q

What are the biological actions of excess cortisol?

A

Impaired glucose tolerance
Mental changes
Hypertension

19
Q

Name 8 visible features caused by excess cortisol?

A
Weight gain and fat redistribution
Thin skin and easy bruising
Striae
Proximal myopathy
Moon face 
Buffalo hump
Facial hair
Acne
20
Q

Name 4 causes of Cushing’s syndrome

A

Oral steroids
Pituitary adenoma
Ectopic ACTH
Adrenal adenoma or carcinoma

21
Q

What is Cushing’s disease?

A

Cushing’s syndrome caused by Pituitary adenoma

22
Q

What are 6 clinical signs of Cushing’s syndrome

A
Thin skin
Proximal myopathy
Centripetal obesity 
Diabetes, hypertension and osteoporosis
Immunosuppression
Moon face
23
Q

What causes the same features as Cushing’s syndrome?

A

Steroids

24
Q

What would a tumour in the Zone glomerulosa cause?

A

Excess aldosterone production

25
Q

What characterises Conn’s syndrome?

A

Aldosterone producing adenoma

26
Q

What are the features of Conn’s syndrome?

A

Hypertension
Peripheral oedema as retain sodium
Low potassium

27
Q

What hormone regulates the production of Cortisol?

A

ACTH

28
Q

Where is POMC produced?

A

Pituitary gland

29
Q

What does POMC stand for?

A

Pro-opio-melanocortin

30
Q

What is POMC broken down into?

A

ACTH & MSH

31
Q

How many veins do each adrenal gland have?

A

1

32
Q

What can’t people with Cushing’s syndrome do?

A

Squat

due to proximal myopathy