Adrenal Glands Flashcards
1
Q
What type of glands are adrenal glands in relation to position?
A
suprarenal glands
2
Q
- What type of shape is the right adrenal gland?
A
triangular shaped
3
Q
- What type of shape is the left adrenal gland?
A
semilunar shaped
4
Q
- what fraction of size is the adrenal gland to the kidney at birth?
A
1/3 of the size of Kidney at birth
5
Q
- In adulthood, what fraction of size is the adrenal gland to the kidney?
A
1/30th of the size of kidney in adults
6
Q
- What is the posterior to the right adrenal gland?
A
the diaphragm
7
Q
what 2 things are anterior to the right adrenal gland?
A
Right lobe of the liver and Inferior vena cava
8
Q
- What is posterior to the left adrenal gland?
A
the Diaphragm
9
Q
what 3 things are anterior to the left adrenal gland?
A
- Pancreas
- Lesser sac
- Stomach
10
Q
- How are the adrenal glands supplied with blood?
A
several arteries branching off the aorta, including the suprarenal and renal arteries.
11
Q
- How does blood flow in the adrenal glands
A
Blood first flows through the adrenal cortex and then drains into the adrenal medulla.
12
Q
- How are adrenal hormones released into the blood circulation?
A
Adrenal hormones are released into the circulation via the left and right suprarenal veins.
13
Q
- What is the 1. outer layer 2. Inner core of the adrenal gland called?
A
- cortex
- medulla
14
Q
- What is the embryological origin of the cortex
A
from mesoderm (epithelial tissue)
15
Q
- What is the embryological origins of the medulla
A
from neural crest
16
Q
- What are the three layers that make up cortical cells called
A
- Zona glomerulosa near the capsule
- Zona fasciculata (the thickest layer)
- Zona reticularis
17
Q
- Where is the zona glomerulosa near
A
near the capsule
18
Q
- What is the thickest layer of the cortical cells
A
Zona Fasiculata
19
Q
- Describe the adrenal medulla’s structure
A
Closely packed clumps of secretory cells(chromaffin) that have a strongly basophilic cytoplasm.
20
Q
- What branch throughout the medulla
A
A fine network of capillaries
21
Q
- Where do the venules drain blood from the sinusoids of the cortex into?
A
into the central medullary vein
22
Q
- What does the neuroendocrine pathway of the adrenal glands involve?
A
involvesstimulation of the medulla by impulses from preganglionic sympathetic neurons originating in thethoracic spinal cord.
23
Q
- What amine hormones does the medulla secrete when stimulated?
A
epinephrine and norepinephrine (AKA adrenaline & noradrenaline)
24
Q
- How are cells arranged in zona glomerulosa (ZG) and are they baso- or eosinophilic
A
- arranged in clusters (glomeruli)
- basophilic
25
25. How are Zona Fusciculata (ZF) cells arranged and are they basophilic or eosinophilic?
- rows of lipid-laden cells arranged radially in bundles of parallel cords (fasces)
- basophilic
26
26. How are zona reticularis (ZR) cells arranged and are they basophilic or eosinophilic?
- tangled network of cells
- basophilic
27
27. What hormones are released from ZG
- mineralocorticoids
- aldosterone
28
28. What do Mineralcorticoids regulate
regulate mineral balance
29
27. What hormones are released from ZF and give 3 examples
- Glucocortoids
- Examples: Cortisol, Corticosterone, cortisone
30
30. What do glucocorticoids regulate
regulate glucose metabolism
31
31. What hormones does ZR release and give 2 examples
- Androgens
- Dehydroepiandrosterone
32
32. What do androgens stimulate
masculinization
33
33. What hormones does the adrenal medulla release and give examples?
- stress hormones
- epinephrine and norepinephrine
34
34. What do stress hormones stimulate
stimulates sympathetic autonomic nervous system
35
what does steroid hormone synthesis require?
requires the activity of cytochrome P450-linked hydroxylases using cholesterol as the raw material
36
what does steroid hormone synthesis require?
requires the activity of cytochrome P450-linked hydroxylases using cholesterol as the raw material
37
36. What does aldosterone do
Stimulate kidneys to reabsorb Na+ and secrete K+
38
37. What 2 things does cortisol do
- Inhibits glucose utilization
-stimulates gluconeogenesis
39
38. 3 Examples of steroid sex hormones?
- Progesterone
- Estradiol
- Testosterone
40
39. What hormones are lipophilic, low molecular weight compounds?
steroids
41
40. What substance are all steroids derived from
CHOLESTEROL
42
41. What does StAR protein do
Facilitates the movement of cholesterol from cytoplasm to mitochondria
43
42. What does StAR stand for in StAR protein
Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory (StAR) Protein
44
43. What 2 things are mineralocorticoids essential for
for fluid and electrolyte balance
45
44. What is the major mineralocorticoid called
Aldosterone
46
45. Where is the primary site of action of mineralocorticoids and what do they do in this region
distal tubules of the kidney nephron where it promotes Na+ retention into the blood and enhances K+ elimination into the urine filtrate
47
46. What 2 reasons is aldosterone released due to?
Aldosterone is released due to:
1) Activation of the renin-angiotensin system in the kidneys and related to
a decrease in Na+ and decrease in Blood Pressure.
2) Direct stimulation of the adrenal cortex by increase in blood K+ concentration
48
47. What are the 2 main sex hormones from adrenal glands
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
Androstenedione
49
48. What is the most important glucocorticoid and what percentage pf glucocorticoid activity is it responsible for
- Cortisol
- 90%
50
49. What is the principal hormone that stimulates adrenal glucocorticoid biosynthesis and secretion
ACTH
