Adrenal Function Flashcards
What produces steroid hormones and neuropeptides
The adrenal gland
What are the three layers of the adrenal cortex
G Zone, F zone, R Zone
What synthesizes mineral corticoid critical for sodium retention, potassium, and acid-base hemostasis
G Zone salt
What synthesizes glucocorticoids critical to blood glucose homeostasis and blood pressure
F Zone sugar
DHEA, dheas and androstenedione Main gonadocorticoids are smaller amounts are testosterone and dihydrotestosterone
R zone sex
What are all derived by sequential enzymatic conversion of cholesterol
Adrenal steroids
What can enter steroidogenic
Only free cholesterol
What is the rate-limiting step in steroid synthesis
Conversion of cholesterol to prenenolone
What is regulated by renin-angiotensin System. The G’zone outer zone of Cortex salt
Aldosterone
What is seen in adrenal gland destruction, long-term Heparin therapy, on lateral adrenalectomy, Zone enzyme deficiencies
Insufficient aldosterone secretion hypoaldosteronism
Cones syndrome, low running autonomics over secretion of aldosterone. Tropic hormone, High Target hormone
Primary hyperaldosteronism
Occurs outside of the adrenal gland but mimics primary hyperaldosteronism. Increased Tropic hormone and increased Target hormone
Secondary hyperaldosteronism
Variable renin and aldosterone levels. Renal tubular diseases causing urinary potassium loss by aldosterone independent mechanisms
Psuedoaldosteronism
What are the three main criteria for diagnosis of primary hyperaldosteronism
- Plasma aldosterone greater than 25
- Low plasma running that fails to increase with volume depletion
- High aldosterone that fails to decrease with saline angiotension inhibition
Glucocorticoids
Cortisol F Zone sugar. Hemodynamics and glucose hemostasis
Addison’s disease. Low cortisol resulting from a primary adrenal disorder or secondary to ACTH deficiency
Addison’s disease adrenal insufficiency
What is caused by excess glucocorticoid production or prolonged exogenous steroid use. Overproduction of crh, ACTH, adrenal glucocorticoids secretion, and exogenesis intake
Increased cortisol
Moon face, buffalo hump, Target hormone is high, Tropic hormone is low
Cushing’s syndrome
Target hormone is high, Tropic hormone is high
Cushing’s disease
Caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland that causes the gland to produce too much ACTH.
Cushing’s disease
Do two causes outside the body that increase the levels of cortisol, such as taking medications containing cortisol
Cushing syndrome
ACTH dependent
High cortisol caused by elevated ACTH
ACTH independent
High cortisol not due to increased ACTH
What are produced as byproducts of cortisol synthesis that are regulated by ACTH. R zone sex
Androgens