Adrenal disorders Flashcards
What is Addison’s disease?
Adrenal failure
What is Cushing’s syndrome characterised by?
Excess cortisol
What does the left adrenal vein drain into?
Renal vein
What does the right adrenal vein drain into?
IVC
Why is it important to vaccinate people with HIB and pneumovax before elective left adrenalectomy
Left adrenalectomy can result in accidental loss of spleen
What does the zona glomerulosa produce?
Aldosterone
What does the zona fasciculata produce?
Cortisol
What does the zona reticularis produce?
Sex steroids
What does the adrenal medulla produce?
Adrenaline
Which hormones produced by the adrenal gland are steroids?
Cortisol
Aldosterone
Sex steroids
What is the precursor for all steroid hormones?
Cholesterol
How is cholesterol used to produce hormones?
Modified by enzymes
What is POMC?
A large precursor protein
Cleaved to produce ACTH, MSH and endorphins
What are the causes of Addison’s disease?
Autoimmune
Tuberculosis
What occurs as adrenal glands begin to fail?
Pituitary increases production of ACTH and MSH to support production of cortisol
But adrenal glands can’t produce cortisol