Chapter 8: The Adrenal Glands Flashcards
What is adrenal adenoma?
benign solid mass located within the adrenal glands
What are adrenal cysts?
benign simple cysts located within the adrenal glands
What is adrenocorticotropic hormone?
hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, which controls the release of hormones by the adrenal gland
What is Conn Syndrome?
a syndrome caused by a functioning tumor within the adrenal cortex that produces excess amounts of aldosterone; patients will have hypertension, excessive thirst, excessive urination, and low levels of potassium in the blood
Cushing syndrome
a syndrome that results from a pituitary or adrenal tumor that causes overproduction of cortisol by the adrenal glands; patients may present with obesity, thinning arms and legs, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and severe fatigue
What are endocrine glands?
glands that release their hormones directly into the blood stream
What is Gerota fascia?
the fibrous envelope of tissue that surrounds the kidney and adrenal gland
What is hirsutism?
excessive hair growth in women in areas where hair growth normally is negligible
What is hypernatremia?
high levels of sodium in the blood
What is hypokalemia?
low levels of potassium in the blood
What is a neuroblastoma?
malignant tumor that can occur within the adrenal gland and anywhere within the sympathetic nervous system
What is pheochromocytoma?
benign, solid adrenal tumor associated with uncontrollable hypertension
What are suprarenal glands?
AKA adrenal glands
What is tachycardia?
abnormally rapid heart rate
The adrenal glands are controlled by what?
the hypothalamus (and therefore anterior pituitary)
Are the adrenal glands peritoneal or retroperitoneal?
retroperitoneal
What controls the release of hormones from the adrenal glands?
adrenocorticotropic hormone secreted by the ant. pit. gland
The adrenal glands are enclosed by the
Gerota Fascia
Each gland is composed of what two things?
medulla and cortex
What are the three zones of the cortex of the adrenal gland?
zona glomerulosa, zona fasiculata, and zona reticularis
Aldosterone is secreted by what?
the cortex of the adrenal gland
Aldosterone is responsible for what?
regulating blood pressure by controlling the amounts of sodium and water in the body
What do androgenic hormones do?
They play a part in the development of male characteristics
What is cortisol?
A hormone that controls the body’s use of fat, carbs, and protein