Endocrine Flashcards
What is the arterial supply of the adrenal glands?
Superior adrenal artery from the inferior phrenic artery
Middle adrenal artery from the abdominal aorta
Inferior adrenal artery from the renal arteries
What is the name of the fascia that surrounds the adrenal glands?
Perinephric fascia
What is the venous drainage of the adrenal glands?
Right adrenal vein into the IVC
Left adrenal vein into the left renal vein
What is the nervous supply of the adrenal glands?
Coeliac plexus and abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves.
Sympathetic innervation is from T10-L1 spinal segments.
Name the different auto-antibodies associated with type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
IAA, IA2, ICA, GAD65, ZnT8
What genes are associated with type 1 DM?
HLA-DR3/4
PTPN22
IL2RA
Name some environmental factors which increase risk of type 1 DM.
Enteroviruses, rotavirus, bacteria, early introduction of cow’s milk and cereals, vitamin D deficiency, some chemicals and drugs.
Describe the different types of available insulin (include what they are used for, when they would be taken)
Short acting soluble - injected 30 mins before a meal, peak effect 2-4 hours, used for IV infusion of ketoacidosis and insulin pump.
Short acting analogue - given immediately before, during or after a meal, onset of effect 30 mins after injection.
Long acting - prolonged release, taken once or twice daily with a meal for convenience.
From what embryological tissue is the pancreas derived from?
Endoderm
Is the pancreas retroperitoneal?
Yes
What vertebral level is the pancreas located?
L1/L2
What type of epithelium lines the ducts of the pancreas?
Cuboidal to columnar lining
What type of cells make up the islets of langerhans? What hormones do these different cells prdoduce?
β cells – insulin
α cells – glucagon
δ cells cells – somatostatin
What is acute pancreatitis.
A life-threatening condition of sudden onset where damage to pancreatic tissue releases dangerous digestive enzymes directly into the surroundings.
What is chronic pancreatitis? What condition can it lead to?
A condition following repeated episodes of acute damage where you get scarring and loss of normal tissue. Can lead to secondary diabetes.
What can a malignant tumour in the head of the pancreas present with? Where does this cancer commonly spread to?
Obstructive jaundice because it blocks the common bile duct.
Stomach, duodenum, transverse colon, liver, major vessels.
What are the embryological origins of the adrenal glands?
Cortex - mesoderm
Medulla - ectoderm
Describe the anatomical location of the adrenal glands.
Situated above upper poles of the kidneys, in the retroperitoneal space.
Name the three layers of the cortex of the adrenal glands and what these layers produce.
Outer - Zona glomerulosa - mineralocorticoids - aldosterone and deoxycorticosterone
Middle - Zona fasciculata - glucocorticoids - cortisol and corticosterone
Inner - zona reticularis - Adrenal androgens - DHEA and androstenedione
What hormones does the medulla of the adrenal glands produce?
Catecholamines - Adrenaline and NorAdrenaline
What is an adrenal adenoma?
A benign tumour of the adrenal cortex.
What hormones can be produced in excess due to an adrenal adenoma?
Cortisol (cushing’s syndrome)
Aldosterone (conn’s syndrome)
Adrenal androgens
Which of these conditions is most likely to result in excess production of hormones: adrenal adenoma or adrenal cortical carcinoma?
Adrenal adenoma
Name 2 causes of atrophy of the adrenal cortex.
Iatriogenic - long term administration of corticosteroids
Autoimmune destruction - addison’s disease