Adrenal Gland Flashcards
Where are the adrenal glands?
Just above the kidney
What is the size and appearence of the adrenal glands?
4-5cm look like triangles(represented this way in diagrams)
When you draw the adrenal glands what must you consider?
Think about it fro the patient perspective as when they are facing you there right adrenal gland is on your left and there left adrenal gland is on your right-remember this when you draw them
How many arteries and veins does the right adrenal gland have?
57 arteries and 1 vein -right adrenal vein which drains into the Inferior vena cava
How can you measure the hormone concentration in the right adrenal gland ?
By canulating the inferior vena cava amd putting a line in going into the adrenal vein as this is the only vein from which the hormones exit
How many veins in the left adrenal gland and what major vein does it drain into?
1 which drains into the left renal vein
How do you measure hormone levels in the left adrenal gland?
Put central line into the inferior vena cava, hook round two corners, get in there and then take blood from the adrenal vein Harder than with the right
Draw diagram of the left and right adrenal gland and the veins
In notes
What are the zones of the adrenal gland and waht do they make?
Adrenal cortex-made up of 3 zones all which make CORTICOSTEROIDS:
-Zona Glomerulosa(very thin) - Aldesterone
-Zona fasciculata(thick)-cortisol
-Zona reticularis(not very important in humans- can make some oestrogen and androgen-mainly in animals)
In the centre of the zones is ADRENAL MEDULLA-makes CATECHOLAMINES:
-80% Adrenaline(epinephrine) which are responsible for fight or flight and increased heart rate
-20% noradrenaline (norepinephrine)
(small amount of dopamine)
How do hormones from the adrenal gland enter the IVC?
The arteries around the adrenal gland go through it and as they pass through each zone they pick up hormones and then these arteries connect to the vein so the hormones enter the vein
Draw the zones of the adrenal gland?
In notes
What is the precursor of corticosteroids?
Give 3 exmples of corticosteroids?
Cholesterol - has 27 carbons
Mineral corticosteroids(aldosterone)
Glucocorticoids(cortisol)
sex steroids(androgens and eostrogens)
What is a steroid?
Anything that comes from a Cholesterol
Describe the synthesis of aldesterone?
1-start with cholesterol
2-side chain at carbon 22 is cleaved off to make PREGNENOLINE
3-Oxidise OH group at carbon 3 using enzyme 3 BETA HYDROXY STEROID DEHYDROGENASE to form PROGESTERONE
4- Add OH group to position 21 using 21 HYDROYLASE to form 11 DEOXYCORTICOSTERONE
5-Then add OH group to position 11 using 11 HYDROXYLASE to give CORTICOSTERONE
6-Then add OH group at positIon 18 using 18 HYDROXYLASEto give ALDOSTERONE
Describe the synthesis of Cortisol?
1-start with cholesterol
2-side chain at carbon 22 is cleaved off to make PREGNENOLINE
3-Oxidise OH group at carbon 3 using enzyme 3 BETA HYDROXY STEROID DEHYDROGENASE to form PROGESTERONE
4-add OH group at position 17 using 17 HYDROXYLASE to give 17 HYDROXY-PROGESTERONE
5- add OH group at position 21 via 21 HYDROXLASE to give 11 DEOXY-CORTISOL
6-Add OH at position 11 via 11 HYDROXYLASE to give cortisol