Adrenal Glands

Question 1

The adrenal glands can also be called…

Answer 1

suprarenal glands

Question 2

The adrenal glands are made up of two separate glands. What are they?

Answer 2

The adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla.

Question 3

What is the embryological origin of the adrenal cortex?

Answer 3

Mesoderm

Question 4

What is mesoderm?

Answer 4

one of the three primary germ cell layers in the very early embryo. The other two layers are the ectoderm (outside layer) and endoderm (inside layer), with the mesoderm as the middle layer between them.

Question 5

What is the embryological origin of the adrenal medulla?

Answer 5

It is derived from the neural crest associated with the sympathetic nervous system.

Question 6

What three sources do the suprarenal arteries and veins originate from?

Answer 6

1. Superior suprarenal arteries
2. midder suprarenal arteries
3. inferior suprarenal arteries

Question 7

The superior suparenal arteries arise from what structure?

Answer 7

From the inferior pherenic arteries.

Question 8

The middle suprarenal arteries arise from what structure?

Answer 8

From the abdominal aorta near the level of origin of the superior mesenteric artery.

Question 9

the inferior suprerenal arteries arise from what structure?

Answer 9

From the renal arteries.

Question 10

Blood from the right suprarenal gland drains via what structure?

Answer 10

The suprarenal vein into the inferior vena cava.

Question 11

Blood from the left suprarenal gland drains via what structure?

Answer 11

the left riprarenal vein which empties into the left renal vein.

Question 12

The adrenal cortex secretes what hormones?

Answer 12

Corticocsteriods and androgens.

Question 13

Name the three concentric zones of the adrenal cortex from he outermost layer to the innermost layer.

Answer 13

1. Zona Glomeruosa
2. Zona Fasciculata
3. Zona Reticularis

Question 14

This section makes up 15% of the adrenal cortex and secretes a class of steroids called mineralocorticoids - the main one being aldosterone.

Answer 14

Zona Glomerosa.

Question 15

This hormone stimulates Na+ and water reabsorbtion by the kidneys which serves to increase blood volume and blood pressure.

Answer 15

Aldosterone

Question 16

This section makes up 65-80% or the adrenal cortex and secretes glucocorticoids, especially cortisol.

Answer 16

Zona Fasciulata

Question 17

This hormone affects carbohydrate metabolism by stimulating production of glucose from amino acids or fatty acids and glucose glucose conversion into glycogen in the liver.

Answer 17

Cortisol

Question 18

This hormone induces fat mobilization and protein breakdown in muscle.

Answer 18

Cortisol

Question 19

This section makes up 10% of the adrenal cortex and secretes dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) a weak androgen.

Answer 19

Zona Reticularis

Question 20

This hormone is converted to testosterone after being released from the adrenal glands. (this happens in both men and women)

Answer 20

dehydroepianderosterone (DHEA)

Question 21

This part of the adrenal glands secretes epinephrine or norepinephrine.

Answer 21

Adrenal Medulla.

Question 22

What are chromaffin cells?

Answer 22

They are modified post-synaptic sympathetic neurons that receive sympathetic input and release neurotransmitters into the blood stream. They can be through of as neuroendocrine cells.

Question 23

This neurotransmitter constitutes 80% of the catecholemines secreted by the adrenal medulla.

Answer 23

epinephrine.

Question 24

What response does epinephrine elicit in the body?

Answer 24

vasocontriction, increased blood pressure, changes in heart rate, and elevated glucose levels - also known as the fight or flight response.

Question 25

The hyposecreation of glucocorticoids is the cause of what disease?

Answer 25

Addison's disease

Question 26

``` The patient comes in with these symptoms: - Hypogycemia - poor stress tolerance - hyperpigmenation What does this patient have? ```

Answer 26

Addison's Disease

Question 27

The hypersecreation of glucocorticoids (especially cortisol and cortisone) is the causation of what disease?

Answer 27

Cushings syndrome.

Question 28

A patient comes in with the following symptoms: - Redistribution of fat - moon face - buffalo hump - pendulous abdomen with red striae (causes purple stretch marks) What does this patient have?

Answer 28

Cushing's Syndrome

Question 29

This condition is the result of a group of enzyme deficiencies that block the synthesis of glucocorticoids. The consequence of this, is that the anterior pituitary secretes more ACTH which tells the adrenal glands to produce more androgenic hormones.

Answer 29

Andrenogenital syndrome

Question 30

The symptoms of this condition cause the clitoris of a female to become enlarged almost like a penis and for the penises of men to become overdeveloped and it quite pronounced in younger childre.

Answer 30

Andrenogenital syndrome.