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HMS302 Endocrine System > Adrenal Glands Anatomy > Flashcards

Adrenal Glands Anatomy Flashcards

1
Q

Adrenal glands aka

A

Suprarenal glands

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2
Q

Where do the adrenal glands lie?

A

Lies superior medial aspect of the upper pole of each kidney

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3
Q

Are the adrenal glands in the intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal space?

A

Retroperitoneal space

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4
Q

Adrenal glands have what shape?

A

A flattened pyramidal shape

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5
Q

In an adult, each adrenal gland is __-___cm in height, __-__cm in width, & a little less than ___cm thick. Also has a mass of __-__g, only half its size at birth.

A

3-5cm (height)
2-3cm (width)
1cm (thickness)
4-6g (mass)

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6
Q

How are the adrenal glands similar to the pituitary?

A

They are derived from both neuronal tissue & epithelial (or epithelial-like) tissue.

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7
Q

Adrenal glands consist of 2 parts:

A
  1. Adrenal cortex
  2. Adrenal medulla
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8
Q

The cells of the cortex develop into what cells?

A

Steroidogenic cells

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9
Q

Steroidogenic cells produce?
(3)

A
  1. Mineralocorticoids
  2. Glucocorticoids
  3. Adrenal androgens
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10
Q

Compare the left adrenal gland to the right one

A

The left adrenal is larger & flatter than the right adrenal gland.

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11
Q

What separates the adrenals from other structures of the body?
- other structures = ribs, pleural reflection, subcostal, sacrospinalis, & latissimus dorsi muscles.

A

Gerota’s fascia & Pararenal fat

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12
Q

Adrenal glands, like the thyroid gland, are…

A

highly vascularized.

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13
Q

Adrenal Cortex - appearance & consistency

A
  • Normal adrenal cortex is dark yellow
  • Firm consistency & finely granular surface
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14
Q

The Adrenal Cortex composes how much % of the volume of a normal adrenal gland?

A

80 - 90%

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15
Q

Adrenal Cortex - develops from? forms?

A
  • develops from mesodermal cells in the vicinity of the superior pole of the developing kidney.
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16
Q

Adrenal Cortex is divided into 3 zones. Name the zones from outer to inner with the hormone that they secrete.

A
  1. Zona glomerulosa (outer) = mineralocorticoids, mainly aldosterone.
  2. Zona fasciculate (middle) = mainly glucocorticoids - primarily cortisol.
  3. Zona reticularis (inner) = synthesizes small amounts of weak androgens.
17
Q

Zona glomerulosa

A
  • outer zone
  • just deep into the connective tissue capsule
  • its cells are closely packed & arranged in spherical clusters & arched columns.
  • secretes mineralocorticoids, mainly alosterone = affect mineral homeostasis.
18
Q

Zona Fasciculata

A
  • middle zone
  • widest of the 3 zones
  • its cells are arranged in long, straight columns.
  • secretes mainly glucocorticoids (primarily cortisol) = affects glucose homeostasis.
19
Q

Zona Reticularis

A
  • inner zone
  • arranged in branching cord
  • synthesizes small amounts of weak androgens (steroid hormones that have a masculinizing effect).
20
Q

Adrenal Medulla - location & appearance

A
  • small, centrally located that is enclosed completely by the adrenal cortex, except at the hilum.
  • red-brown
21
Q

The Adrenal Medulla constitutes how much volume of a normal adrenal gland?

A

10 - 20%

22
Q

Adrenal Medulla - produces 3 catecholamine hormones:

A
  1. Norepinephrine
  2. Epinephrine
  3. Small amount of Dopamine
23
Q

How are the chromaffin cells established in the adrenal medulla?

A
  • Soon after the cortex forms, chromaffin cells (neural crest-derived cells associated with the sympathetic ganglia) migrate into the cortical cells & become encapsulated by them.
  • Thus the chromaffin cells establish the inner portion of the adrenal gland = adrenal medulla.
24
Q

Chromaffin cells

A
  • neural crest-derived cells associated with the sympathetic ganglia.
  • stain with chromium stains.
  • have the potential of developing into postganglionic sympathetic neurons.
  • innervated by cholinergic preganglionic sympathetic neurons.
  • can synthesize norepinephrine (catecholamine neurotransmitter) from tyrosine.
25
Q

Explain the potential of chromaffin cells developing into postganglionic sympathetic neurons.

A

Chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla have the potential of developing into postganglionic sympathetic neurons, however, the cells are exposed to high local concentrations of cortisol from the cortex.
Cortisol:
- inhibits neuronal differentiation of the medullary cells so that they fail to form dendrites & axons.
- induces the expression of an additional enzyme = phenylethanolamine-N-methyl transferase (PNMT), in the catecholamine biosynthetic pathway.
- PNMT adds a methyl group to norepinephrine, producing epinephrine - primary hormonal product of the adrenal medulla.

26
Q

Adrenal gland - blood supply

A
  • blood flow to the normal adrenal gland is approx. 10 mL/min.
  • blood supply to both the cortex & medulla increases during periods of stress.
  • Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) produces an immediate increase in blood flow to the adrenals.
27
Q

Adrenal gland - arterial supply from 3 main groups of inflow vessels:

A
  1. Superior suprarenal arteries
  2. Middle suprarenal artery
  3. Inferior suprarenal arteries
28
Q

Superior suprarenal arteries

A
  • derived from the inferior phrenic arteries
  • Inferior phrenic arteries:
    = pass just superior & medial to the adrenal glands
    = gives off a series of branches to the ipsilateral adrenal gland before it supplies the diaphragm.
29
Q

Middle suprarenal artery

A

derived from the aorta

30
Q

Inferior suprarenal arteries

A

derived from the adjacent renal artery

31
Q

Other adjacent vessels also may supply branches to the adrenal gland, these are:

A

Intercostal arteries, left ovarian artery, left internal spermatic arteries.

32
Q

Adrenal gland - venous drainage

A
  • each adrenal gland has a single draining vein
  • left adrenal gland = left adrenal vein
  • right adrenal gland = right adrenal vein
33
Q

Vascular control of the left adrenal vein

A

Vascular control of the adrenal vein by the surgeon is easier on the left because the left adrenal vein is much longer than the right.

34
Q

Right adrenal vein

A
  • emerges from the hilum
  • Is <1cm in length & empties directly into the posterior IVC, creating a risk for injury & hemorrhage during surgery.
  • often cant be exposed until the gland is circumferentially mobilized.

HMS302 Endocrine System (14 decks)

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