Adrenal Glands

Question 1

Where are adrenal glands located?

Answer 1

superior pole of the kidneys

Question 2

What are the 5 areas of the adrenal gland?

Answer 2

medulla
cortex
zona glomerulosa
zona fasciculate
zona reticularis

Question 3

What is the short term stress response in the adrenal gland?

Answer 3

1. glycogen broken down to glucose, which increases blood glucose
2. increase blood pressure
3. increased breathing rate
4. increased metabolic rate
5. change in blood-flow patterns, leading to increased alterness and decreased digestive and kidney activity

Question 4

What is the long term stress response for adrenals for mineralcorticoids?

Answer 4

1. Retention of sodium ions and water by kidneys

2. increased blood volume and blood pressure

Question 5

What is the long term stress response for adrenals for glucocorticoids?

Answer 5

1. proteins and fats broken down and converted to glucose, leading to increased blood glucose
2. immune system may be supressed.

Question 6

What is the outermost portion of the adrenal gland?

Answer 6

cortex

Question 7

What is the second outermost portion of the adrenal gland?

Answer 7

zona glomerulosa

Question 8

What is the function of the zona glomerulosa?**

Answer 8

produce aldosterone, which is a mineral corticoid

renal reabsorption of sodium and excretion of hydrogen and potassium ions

Question 9

What is the function of aldosterone?**

Answer 9

long term blood pressure

Question 10

How does the zona glomerulosa control secretion of hormones?

Answer 10

1. ACTH-Adrenocorticotropic hormone (corticotropin) is released by the anterior pituitary
2. activates corticotropin release factor
3. growth hormone inhibiting factor
4. Angiotensin II( most powerful) causes vasoconstriction ans subsequent increase in blood pressure

Question 11

What does angiotensin II do?

Answer 11

stimulates aldosterone from adrenal glands

Question 12

Where is angiotensin II released from?

Answer 12

liver and part of the renin angiotensin system

Question 13

What does the zona glomerulosa control?

Answer 13

ACTH
angiotensin II
Atrial Natriuretic factor
blood pressure
blood volume

Question 14

What does the zona fasciculate secrete?**

Answer 14

glucocorticoids like cortisol and corticosterone

Question 15

What is the function of the zona fasciculate?**

Answer 15

primarily metabolism of glucose

increase blood glucose

Question 16

What is a secondary function of the zona fasciculate?

Answer 16

increase metabolism like protein catabolism, increase CHO catabolism and lipid catabolism

increase renal absorption of sodium and renal excretion of potassium and hydrogen ions

stimulates angiotensin II secretion

stimulates secretion of catecholamines
turns down inflammation activity
acts as an anti-allergic agent

Question 17

What is the function of the zona reticularis?**

Answer 17

secrete androstenedione, DHEA, ACTH

released into blood stream and taken up by testis and ovaries

Question 18

What is androstenedione?**

Answer 18

precursor to testosterone

Question 19

What is the function of adrenocorticotropic hormone?**

Answer 19

regulates adrenal androgen

Question 20

Where is the medulla located?**

Answer 20

in the inner part of the adrenal gland

Question 21

What does the medulla secrete?**

Answer 21

catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)

Question 22

Where specifically does the medulla receive input from sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 22

postganglionic fibers (T5-T11)

Question 23

What are the two adrenal disorders?

Answer 23

Addison’s disease

Cushing syndrome

Question 24

What is Addison’s disease?**

Answer 24

when the adrenal glands produce too little cortisol, aldosterone and adrenal insufficiency

Question 25

Who can suffer from Addison’s disease?

Answer 25

all age groups, both sexes and when untreated can result in death

Question 26

What are the symptoms of Addison’s disease?**

Answer 26

muscle weakness and fatigue
weight loss and decreased appetite
hyperpigmentation
low blood pressure
nausea and diarrhea
salt craving
hypoglycemia
irritability
body hair loss or sexual dysfunction

Question 27

What are the signs of Addison’s disease?**

Answer 27

darkening areas of skin
severe fatigue
weight loss
GI problems
dizziness or fainting
salt craving
muscle or joint pain

Question 28

What does cortisol do?

Answer 28

converts food fuels into energy
play role in immune system
help your body respond to stress

Question 29

What do androgens do?**

Answer 29

sexual development in men
influence muscle mass
libido and a sense of well being in men and women

Question 30

Who produces androgens?

Answer 30

men and women

Question 31

What are the primary reason for adrenal insufficiency?

Answer 31

adrenal cortex is damaged
doesn’t produce hormones in adequate quantites
autoimmune disease

Question 32

What are some other causes of adrenal insufficiency?

Answer 32

tuberculosis
infections of the adrenal glands
cancer of the adrenal glands
bleeding into the adrenals
pituitary gland is diseased
ACTH from pituitary
stimulates adrenal cortex to produce hormones

Question 33

What are some drugs people can take that may cause adrenal sufficiency?**

Answer 33

corticosteroids for treatment
asthma
arthritis
abruptly stop meds

Question 34

What can happen if Addison’s disease isn’t treated?

Answer 34

physical stress
injury
infection
illness

Question 35

What is cushing’s disease?**

Answer 35

too much hormone secretion, especially cortisol

affects many parts of your body

Question 36

What are the symptoms of cushing disease?**

Answer 36

thinning of skin
weight gain
bruising
high blood pressure
osteoporosis
diabetes
puffy face (moon face)
weakness
menstrual interruption

Question 37

Where do people with cushing’s disease gain weight?**

Answer 37

chest, stomach, face area
arms and legs appear thin because of this
buffalo hump

Question 38

What does a person with Cushing’s disease face look like?

Answer 38

becomes puffy and rounded

skin on cheek area can become red and swollen