Anatomy Of Adrenal Flashcards
What are the three layers of adrenal cortex?
1) Zona glomerulosa
2) Zona Fasciculata
3) Zona reticularis
Histology of Zona glomerulosa
1) Columnar with dense nuclei
2) Abundant sER, mitochondria, and few lipid droplets
3) Has glomeruli
Histology of zona fasciculata
1) Polyhedral with pale nuclei
2) Cytoplasm has many lipid vacuoles (spongicytes)
3) numerous sER, mitochondria, has more lipid droplets
4) rich in Cholesterol and vitamin c
Where are chromaffin cells located and what do they do ?
In the adrenal medulla, they secrete catecholamines
What stimulates the secretory activity of adrenal medulla?
The sympathetic multipolar nerve cells
Tell me about the granules present in chromaffin cells?
Chromaffin granules: they appear brown after staining with chromium
Differentiate between Epinephrine and norepinephrine secreting chromaffin cells
1) EN: homogeneous granules
2)NEN: granules with electron-dense centre and peripheral halo
Functions of Zona glomerulosa
Secretes Aldosterone (not controlled by ACTH
Function of Zona Fasciculata
Secretes cortisol in response to ACTH
Function of Zona reticularis
Secretes sex hormones in response to ACTH
Function of adrenal medulla
Secretes Epinephrine and norepinephrine
What is the origin of adrenal medulla?
Ectoderm
Which adrenal layer is essential for life?
Cortex
What are diseases related to adrenal gland?
Addison’s (decrease production of adrenocorticoids due to destruction)
Cushing’s (pituitary adenoma causing increased ACTH—> increased cortisol)