Adrenal Glands Flashcards

1
Q

adrenal glands are often very hard to find on necropsy. what anatomic structure can you use to ID adrenal gland location?

A

phrenicoabdominal vein

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2
Q

tell me the gross appearance of a normal adrenal gland

A

1:2:1 cortical:medullary:cortical ratio
outer cortex is yellow
inner medulla is dark red

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3
Q

what are the zones of the adrenal cortex from outside to inside

A

zona glomerulosa
zona fasiculata
zona reticularis

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4
Q

the adrenal medulla produces what?

A

catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)

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5
Q

the zona glomerulosa produces what?

A

mineralocorticoids, like aldosterone

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6
Q

the zona fasiculata produces what?

A

glucocorticoids, like cortisol

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7
Q

the zona reticularis produces what?

A

sex hormones, like progesterone, estrogen, androgens

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8
Q

the zona glomerulosa secretes mineralocorticoids. this process is regulated by ____? this process acts on _____?

A

renin-angiotensin
distal convoluted tubules

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9
Q

what do mineralocorticoids do? so if there’s mineralocorticoid dysfunction, what happens?

A

excretion of potassium and resorption of sodium (and water follows sodium)

potassium is not excreted (increased K) and sodium is not resorbed (decreased Na)

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10
Q

the zona fasiculata secretes glucocorticoids. this process is regulated by ____?

A

ACTH

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11
Q

what do glucocorticoids do? what are the consequences?

A

sparing of glucose - gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, protein catabolism
suppress inflammation/immunity
negative effect on wound healing

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12
Q

the zona reticularis releases sex hormones. this process is regulated by ____.

A

ACTH

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13
Q

what 3 disorders of the adrenal cortex do we have to know?

A

hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s)
hyperadrenocorticism (Cushing’s)
Adrenal neoplasia (of ferrets)

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14
Q

what disorder of the adrenal medulla do we have to know?

A

neoplasms –> pheochromocytoma

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15
Q

Hypoadrenocorticism and Hyperadrenocorticism are called ________ and ________ disease, respectfully.

A

Hypo: Addison’s
Hyper: Cushing’s

Cocaine makes you Hyper
(and then Addison’s is hypo lol)

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16
Q

What causes hypoadrenocorticism (Addison’s) in broad terms

A

adrenocortical insufficiency

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17
Q

Hypoadrenocorticism is most common in what species? how does this happen?

A

dogs
idiopathic adrenocortical atrophy

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18
Q

true or false: hypoadrenocorticsm affects only 1 layer of the adrenal cortex

A

False. it affects ANY OR ALL layers of the cortex
mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, sex hormones are all affected

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19
Q

Hypoadrenocorticism causes a mineralocorticoid _____. how does this manifest in terms of electrolytes?

A

deficiency
increased potassium, decreased sodium

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20
Q

Hypoadrenocorticism causes a glucocorticoid _____. how does the manifest?

A

deficiency
GI signs, hypoglycaemia, low cortisol and no response to ACTH stimulation test

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21
Q

how do you test for hypoadrenocorticism?

A

ACTH stimulation test
not cortisol measurements because cortisol fluctuates during the day so it isn’t as helpful

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22
Q

Hypoadrenocorticism causes ____ onset of vague clinical signs, like….

A

insidious
vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, lethargy, CV collapse

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23
Q

What is an Addisonian crisis? what is it caused by?

A

CV collapse
electrolyte imbalances

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24
Q

Idiopathic adrenocortical atrophy is characterized by what and in what signalment?

A

bilateral adrenal cortical atrophy in young adult dogs

25
Q

what are the gross lesions of idiopathic adrenocortical atrophy?

A

none really, other than really small adrenals!

26
Q

what is the mechanism of endocrine disease of hypoadrenocorticism?

A

primary hypo function

27
Q

Left is a normal adrenal. R is from a dog with hx of vomiting, bloody diarrhea, lethargy, sudden death. what is the top ddx?

A

hypoadrenocorticism

28
Q

Hyperadrenocorticism is a syndrome of ______ _____.

A

cortisol excess

29
Q

what is one of the most common endrocinopathies of dogs?

A

hyperadrenocorticism

30
Q

true or false: hyperadrenocorticism is common in cats

A

false! infrequent in cats

31
Q

what are 3 pathogenic mechanisms of hyperadrenocorticism?

A

functional corticotroph (ACTH-secreting) pituitary adenoma (85-90%)

functional adrenal gland neoplasm (10-15%)

iatrogenic

32
Q

what are the clinical signs and gross lesions of Hyperadrenocorticism?

A

increased appetite
muscular atrophy
cutaneous lesions
hepatomegaly
secondary infections
impaired wound healing

33
Q

tell me 4 ways to tell there’s muscular atrophy in hyperadrenocorticism

A

pendulous abdomen (pot-bellied)
lordosis
trembling
straight-legged braced position

34
Q

tell me at least 2 clinical signs that tell you that this dog is sick. what is he sick with?

A

pendulous abdomen, lordosis, alopecia, straight-legged braced position

hyperadrenocorticism

35
Q

tell me 3 types of cutaneous lesions demonstrated with hyperadrenocorticism

A

alopecia
thin skin
calcification (calcinosis cutis)

36
Q

what’s the lesion? what disease process probably caused this?

A

Calcinosis cutis
hyperadrenocorticism

37
Q

why does hepatomegaly happen with hyperadrenocorticism?

A

steroid hepatopathy because of accumulation of glycogen in hepatocytes

38
Q

adrenal cortical adenomas are most common in what signalment?

A

older dogs

39
Q

True or false: adrenal cortical adenomas are often incidental, but can be functional

A

true

40
Q

True or false: adrenal cortical carcinomas are more common than adenomas

A

false. they are less common than adenomas

41
Q

adrenal cortical carcinomas are common in what signalment ?

A

older cattle and dogs

42
Q

true or false: adrenal cortical carcinomas can be functional, are invasive, and can metastasize to liver, kidney, lymph nodes, and lungs

A

true

43
Q

adrenal gland. what is the lesion?

A

adrenocortical adenoma

you can see it’s thinly encapsulated and contained in the cortex

44
Q

true or false: adrenal disease in ferrets is pretty rare

A

false!!! extremely common!!

45
Q

adrenal disease in ferrets occurs most commonly in what signalment?

A

females > males (2:1)

46
Q

what is a common cause for adrenal disease in ferrets?

A

early gonadectomy

47
Q

what is the spectrum of proliferative lesions that cause the same clinical syndrome in ferrets?

A

hyperplasia (45%)
carcinoma (45%)
adenoma (10%)

48
Q

true or false: adrenal cortical neoplasms in ferrets can be unilateral or bilateral

A

true

49
Q

with adrenal disease in ferrets, there is often concurrent _____.

A

insulinoma

50
Q

which zone of the adrenal cortex is affected with adrenal disease in ferrets?
what does this mean?

A

zona reticularis
means that sex hormones are affected

51
Q

tell me about the changes that occur because of adrenal disease in ferrets

A

increased estradiol-17B; normal cortisol
bilaterally symmetrical alopecia (both sexes)
enlarged vulva (female)
prostatic enlargement and urethral obstruction (males)
pancytopenia (both sexes)

52
Q

this ferret has vulvar swelling and melena. what disease is high on ddx list?

A

adrenal disease (hyperplasia or carcinoma more likely than adenoma)

53
Q

this ferret presents with bilaterally symmetrical alopecia and has pancytopenia. what is high on your ddx list?

A

adrenal disease (hyperplasia or carcinoma more likely than adenoma)

54
Q

what is the most common tumor of the adrenal medulla?

A

pheochromocytoma

55
Q

pheochromocytomas occur in what species?

A

dogs and bulls (C-cell tumor in thyroid)

56
Q

true or false: there are only benign forms of pheochromocytomas

A

false. there are both malignant and benign forms

57
Q

some pheochromocytomas are ____, meaning that they result in ____ catecholamine release, which results in _____.

A

functional
excessive
hypertension

58
Q

this is an adrenal gland from a horse. what is it?

A

pheochromocytoma
dark red tumor - coming from medulla