Anatomy And Physiology Basics Flashcards
What are the two areas of the adrenal glands
Adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla
What are the three zones of the adrenal cortex?
Zona glomerulousa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis
What hormone does the zona glomerulousa secrete?
Mineralcorticoids (aldosterone)
What hormone does the medulla fasciculata secrete?
Glucocorticoids (cortisol)
what hormone does the zona reticulata secrete?
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
What hormones does the adrenal medulla secrete
Epinephrine and norepinephrine
What do glucocorticoids such as cortisol do?
Main stress hormone
Regulates stress response
What is the function of mineralcorticoids such as aldosterone?
RAAS
Regulates sodium, potassium, blood pressure, and blood pH
What does DHEA do?
Helps produce estrogen and testosterone
What are the causes of corticosteroid deficiencies vs excess?
Deficiency: Genetic, enzymatic disorders, autoimmune destruction of the pituitary or adrenals, infection, infarction, iatrogenic
Excess: cancers
What is the production of glucocorticoids and adrenal androgens controlled by?
HPA axis
Explain the HPA axis and cortisol production
Hypothalamus releases corticoreleasing hormone from endogenous or exogenous stressors— Anterior pituitary releases Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) —cortisol is released by adrenals
Negative feedback loop
When are the peak and trough cortisol levels?
Peak: AM
Trough: PM<
Explain the RAAS system with mineralocorticoid production
Low blood pressure stimulates Renin release from the jux cells of the kidney — This stimulates Angiotensinogen to separate into Angiotensin I (a vasodilator) — ACE converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II (a vasoconstrictor) — Angiotensin II increases the production of aldosterone — aldosterone increases Na retention and K excretion causing increased water retention
