adrenal glands

Question 1

where are the adrenal glands in relation to the peritoneum

Answer 1

retroperitoneal

Question 2

what embryological tissue are the adrenal cortices derived from

Answer 2

intermediate cortex

Question 3

what embryological tissue are the adrenal medulla derived from

Answer 3

neural crest cells

Question 4

what cells are found in the adrenal medulla

Answer 4

chromaffin

modified sympathetic ganglion cells

Question 5

what are the layers of the cortex

Answer 5

zona glomerulosa
zona fasciculate
zona reticularis

Question 6

what hormone does the glomerulosa produce

Answer 6

mineralocorticoids (aldosterone

Question 7

what does the faciculata produce

Answer 7

glucocorticoids e.g. cortisol

Question 8

what does the reticularis produces

Answer 8

glucocorticoids and androgens

Question 9

what does the medulla produce

Answer 9

epinephrine

Question 10

what system controls aldosterone

Answer 10

the renin angiotensin aldosterone system

Question 11

what is the function of aldosterone

Answer 11

promotes Na+ and water retention, and lower plasma K+

Question 12

what is the function of glucocorticoids

Answer 12

carbohydrate, lipid and protein metabolism

Question 13

what hormone controls glucocorticoid secretion

Answer 13

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) 
Produced by that anterior pituitary gland

Question 14

what is the blood supply to the adrenal cortex

Answer 14

superior, middle and inferior adrenal arteries

short cortical arteries

Question 15

what is the blood supply to the medulla

Answer 15

blood draining from the cortex containing adreno corticosteroids which influences the production of adrenaline by the medulla

fresh blood in long cortical arteries

Question 16

what is the long term stress response

Answer 16

retention of sodium and water 
increased volume and blood pressure 
proteins and fats converted to glucose 
increased blood glucose
suppression of the immune system

Question 17

what are the actions of cortison

Answer 17

ability to deal with stress, trauma, infection etc
anti inflammatory
anti allergic
anti immune actions

Question 18

what are the possible causes of cushings

Answer 18

ACTH releasing pituitary tumour

ectopic ACTH releasing tumour

tumour of the adrenal cortex

administration of therapeutic glucocorticoid drugs

Question 19

what are the features of cushings

Answer 19

hyperglycaemia
muscle wasting due to loss of protein synthesis
increase in FFA (free fatty acid)
increased insulin release
redistribution of fat stores to face, neck, upper trunk
buffalo hump
tissue oedema
hypokalaemia
hypertension 
water and sodium retention
GI tract ulceration 
decrease in protein synthesis

Question 20

what pathways stimulate aldosterone secretion

Answer 20

increased potassium

ACTH

RAAS

Question 21

what are the causes of Addison’s disease

Answer 21

Tuberculosis
metastatic tumour
HIV
atrophy due to prolonged steroid therapy

Question 22

what are the features of Addison’s disease

Answer 22

loss of weight/ appetite, muscle weakness, nausea, vomiting

low plasma glucose

hyponatreamia and hyperkalaemia

dehydration and hypotension

lethargy and dizziness

skin pigmentation

Question 23

what is the treatment of addison’s

Answer 23

glucocorticoid replacement therapy

intravenous saline if severely dehydrated

Question 24

what do chromaffin cells produce

Answer 24

catecholamines

controlled by preganglionic sympathetic neurons

Question 25

what hormones are produced by the medulla

Answer 25

epinephrine
norepinephrine
dopamine
encephalins (pain control)

Question 26

what molecule is the precursor of catecholamines

Answer 26

tyrosine