Endo - The adrenal gland

Question 1

What is produced in the adrenal cortex?

Answer 1

Corticosteroids

Question 2

What is the precursor to corticosteroids?

Answer 2

Cholesterol

Question 3

What are the functions of aldosterone?

Answer 3

Controls blood pressure, sodium and lowers potassium

Question 4

What is the effect of angiotensin II on the adrenals?

Answer 4

Production of aldosterone

Question 5

What is the effect of ACTH on the adrenals?

Answer 5

Production of cortisol

Question 6

What is Addison’s disease?

Answer 6

• Primary adrenal failure
• Autoimmune disease where the immune system decides to destroy the adrenal cortex
• Tuberculosis of the adrenal gland (commonest cause worldwide)
• Pituitary starts to secrete lots of ACTH, hence high MSH (melanocyte)

Question 7

What are the consequences of adrenocortical failure?

Answer 7

• Fall in blood pressure
• Loss of salt in the urine
• Increased plasma potassium
• Fall in glucose due to glucocorticoid deficiency
• High ACTH resulting in pigmentation
• Eventual death due to hypotension

Question 8

What is the most common cause of congenital adrenal hyperplasia?

Answer 8

Lacking the gene for the production of the 21-hydroxylase enzyme - cannot make aldosterone or cortisol

Question 9

What are the effects of full congenital adrenal hyperplasia?

Answer 9

No aldosterone or cortisol is produced

More sex steroids are produced - excess testosterone - easy to spot in female babies but not in males