Adrenal Glands

Question 1

what is produced in the zona glomerulosa

Answer 1

mineralcorticoids e.g. aldosterone

Question 2

what is produced in the zona fasicolata

Answer 2

glucocorticords e.g. cortisol

Question 3

what is produced in the zona reticularis

Answer 3

androgens

Question 4

what is produced in the medulla

Answer 4

adrenaline and noradrenaline

Question 5

what are steroid hormones synthesised from

Answer 5

cholesterol

Question 6

how do steroid hormones cause their effect

Answer 6

once entering the cell they bind to receptors causing dissociation of the chaperone proteins. the complex then binds to transcription factors or glucocorticoid response elements to alter transcriptions

Question 7

what is the protein carriers for aldosterone and cortisol

Answer 7

aldosterone = albumin 
cortisol = transcortin

Question 8

what does aldosterone do

Answer 8

increases expression of Na/K pump

Question 9

what is primary hyperaldosterone

Answer 9

a defect in the adrenal cortex causing an increase in aldosterone. this includes hyperplasia and aldosterone secreting adenomas (Conn’s syndrome)

Question 10

what is secondary hyperaldosterone

Answer 10

where there is a defect in RAAS causing an increase in aldosterone e.g. from renal artery stenosis

Question 11

what drug should be given in hyperaldosterone

Answer 11

spironolactone - a minercorticoid antagonist

Question 12

what are catecholamines synthesised from

Answer 12

tyrosine

Question 13

what is phoachromocytoma

Answer 13

a chromaffin cell tumour where they secrete catecholamines

Question 14

what are the effects of phoachromocytoma

Answer 14

life threatening hypertension, headahces, weight loss, increased blood glucose

Question 15

what is congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Answer 15

a autosomal recessive disease where the enzyme 2,1-hydroxylase is missing and so glucocorticoids and mineralcorticoids cant be produced and so their is increased production of androgens

Question 16

what does cortisol do

Answer 16

increases protein breakdown, gluconeogenesis, lipolysis, anti-inflammatory and suppresses immune system

Question 17

give 2 examples of synthetic cortisols

Answer 17

prednisolone and hydrocortisone

Question 18

what diseases can prednisolone be given in

Answer 18

inflammatory (asthma and rheumatoid arthritis), organ rejection

Question 19

what is cushing’s syndrome

Answer 19

an increase in cortisol

Question 20

what causes cushing sundrome

Answer 20

• cushing’s disease = pituitary ACTH secreting tumour
• cortisol secreting adrenal tumour
• non pituitary-adrenal ACTH secreting tumour

Question 21

why does a cortisol secreting adrenal tumour not increase ACTH levels

Answer 21

as cortisol controls the production of ACTH through negative feedback

Question 22

what are the signs and symptoms of cushing’s syndrome

Answer 22

• increase weight to the abdomen (fat distribution changes)
• thinner arms and legs as proteins break down
• purple stretch marks
• hyperglycaemia
• slightly lower Na and slightly higher K

Question 23

what is Addison’s disease

Answer 23

a cortisol deficiency

Question 24

what are the signs of Addison’s disease

Answer 24

weight loss, tiredness, hyperpigmentation, hypoglycaemia

Question 25

why does hypopigmentation occur in Addinson’s disease

Answer 25

as the POMC which produces the ACTH also produces MSH which activates melanocytes

Question 26

what are the causes of Addinson’s disease

Answer 26

auto-immune, TB, genetic,

Question 27

what is the treatment for Addison’s crisis

Answer 27

fluid replacement and cortisol through IV