Adrenal Glands Flashcards
What type of hormones does the adrenal cortex produce?
Steroid hormones
What type of hormones does the adrenal medulla produce?
Amine hormones
What are the three layers of the adrenal cortex?
Zona glomerulosa, Zona fasciculata, Zona reticularis
What does the zona glomerulosa produce and what is the major hormone secreted?
Mineralcorticoids ; aldosterone
What does the zona fasciculata produce and what is the major hormone secreted?
Glucocorticoids ; cortisol
What does the zona reticularis produce and what is the major hormone secreted?
Sex hormones ; androgens
What is the function of mineralcorticoids?
Regulate salt balance
What is the function of glucocorticoids
Assist with carbohydrate metabolism
Hat is the function of androgens
Required for sexual function but contributes less than the gonads
Function of aldosterone
Controls the amount of fluid in the body.
Increases the salt and water conservation via renal tubular retention of Na, Cl, and H2O and promotes the excretion og K and H. Aldosterone results in vasoconstriction which will increase BP and BV
T/F:
Blood levels are higher in the morning
TRUE
Adrenal Disease
HYPERALDOSTERONISM
- Secreting adrenal adenoma — conn syndrome
- Aldosterone — secreting adrenal carcinoma
- Hyperplasia of adrenal cortex
Reninangiotensin system disorder
HYPERALDOSTERONISM
- excess produciton of renin
- malignant hypertension
- renin secreting renal tumor
List some causes of hypoaldosteronism
- Atrophy of adrenal glands
- Addison’s disease (atrophy with Dec prod of aldosterone and glucocorticoids
- Congenital deficiency of 21-hydroxylase enzyme
What is the feedback look for cortisol production?
Hypothalamus (CRH) -> anterior pituitary (ACTH) -> Cortisol production
Low levels of cortisol ___ the release of ACTH ; high levels of cortisol ___ the release of ACTH
Promote ; Inhibit
Cuse of primary hypercortisolism
adrenal adenoma or carcinoma
Exogenous administration of cortisol
What type of hypercortisolism is Cushing Syndrome and what is it caused by
Primary
Excess cortisol
What causes secondary hypercortisolism
Excessive production of ACTH from pituitary tumor
Ectopic production of ACTH by nonendocrine tumor
What type of hypercortisolism is Cushing Disease and what is it caused by
Secondary
Pituitary ACTH excess which stimulates excess cortisol production
What are the cases of primary hypocortisolism
Atrophy of adrenal gland
Autoimmune disease
TB
Prolonged high dosage cortisol therapy
What is the cause of secondary hypocortisolism
Pituitary hypofunction
List the catecholamines
Epinephrine (EPI)
Norepinephrine (NE)
Dopamine
Where are catecholamines produced?
Tyrosine cells of the medulla, brain, and sympathetic neurons
Function of epinephrine
Converts glycogen to glucose
Released in response to low BP, hypoxia, cold exposure, muscle exertion, and pain
Function of norepinephrine
Neurotransmitter affecting vascular smooth muscle and heart
Released primarily by the postganglionic sympathetic nerves
Function of dopamine
Neurotransmitter in the brain affecting the vascular system
Catecholamine metabolism of DOPAMINE
Dopamine > homovanillic acid
Catecholamine metabolism of NOREPINEPHRINE
Norepinephrine > normetanephrine > vanillylmandelic acid
Catecholamine metabolism of EPINEPHRINE
Epinephrine > metanephrine > vanillylmandelic acid
What is a pheochromocytoma
tumor of the adrenal medulla, usually benign