Endocrine II Flashcards
glands located on top of each kidney
adrenal glands
outer vs inner portion of adrenal gland
Outer = adrenal cortex Inner = adrenal medulla
What hormones do the adrenal cortex release? Adrenal medulla?
Adrenal cortex:
1) Mineralocorticoids (zona glomerulosa) –> aldosterone
2) Glucocorticoids (zona fasciculata) –> cortisol, corticosterone
3) Androgenic steroids (zona reticularis) –> estrogen, androgens
Adrenal medulla: secretes catecholamines (epinephrine, norepinephrine)
hormone that inhibits level of Na+ excreted into the urine and helps to maintain blood volume and BP
aldosterone
hormone that controls the body’s use of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates
hydrocortisone (cortisol)
hormone that suppresses inflammatory reactions in the body and also affects the immune system
corticosterone
Effects of epinephrine vs norepi:
Epinephrine (adrenaline)
• Increases the heart rate and force of contraction
• Facilitates blood flow to the muscles and brain
• Causes relaxation of smooth muscles
• Helps with conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver
Norepinephrine (noradrenaline)
• Has little effect on smooth muscle, metabolic processes, and CO
• Has strong vasoconstrictive effects, increases BP
______ is normally produced by the pituitary gland to stimulate the adrenal gland to produce cortisol.
ACTH
Functions of cortisol:
o Maintains glucose (blood sugar) regulation
o Suppresses the immune response
o Released as part of the body’s response to stress
o Nonspecific cardiac stimulant that activates release of vasoactive substances
a wasting disease caused by failure of secretion of hormones by the adrenal cortex
chronic adrenocortical insufficiency
Chronic adrenocortical insufficiency causes a deficiency of which two hormones?
cortisol and aldosterone
More than 90% of cases of chronic adrenocortical insufficiency are due to one of these:
- autoimmune adrenalitis
- tuberculosis
- AIDS
- metastatic cancer
Addison disease vs Cushing disease
Addison disease = hypocortisolism
Cushing disease = hypercortisolism
Name the adrenal gland disorder: weakness, easily fatigued, weight loss, GI disturbances
Addison disease
Name the adrenal gland disorder: hyperpigmentation of skin and mucosa because increased levels of ACTH precursor hormone stimulates melanocytes
Addison disease
Common sites of hyperpigmentation (Addison disease):
face, axillae, nipples, areolae, and perineum
Name the adrenal gland disorder: decreased mineralocorticoid (aldosterone)
Addison disease
Addison disease results in decreased mineralocorticoids (aldosterone) due to what (4) things:
- potassium retention (hyperkalemia)
- sodium loss (hyponatremia)
- hypotension
- hypovolemia
Name the adrenal gland disorder: hypoglycemia may occur as a result of glucocorticoid deficiency and impaired gluconeogenesis
Addison disease
treatment for Addison syndrome
corticosteroid replacement therapy
Name the adrenal gland disorder: adrenal hyperfunction
Cushing syndrome
condition that causes the adrenal gland to produce excess cortisol
Cushing syndrome
Possible causes of the excess production of cortisol (Cushing syndrome):
Tumor in the adrenal cortex producing excess cortisol
ACTH-like hormone can be produced from cancer cells such as lung cancer
ACTH excessively produced from a pituitary tumor (pituitary adenoma) within the brain
the most common cause of Cushing syndrome
taking cortisone-like medications (Prednisone is the most common)
Manifestations of increased levels of glucocorticoids (cortisol):
Hypertension and weight gain Fat in the facial area—moon facies Fat deposition on posterior neck and back—buffalo hump Diabetes and osteoporosis Depression Hirsutism
The following do NOT usually cause Cushing syndrome:
Inhaled corticosteroid medicines for asthma
Topical corticosteroid medications
Oral corticosteroids taken every day for short periods of time or every other day for longer periods
medical emergency caused by a lack of cortisol
acute adrenal crisis
patients may experience lightheadedness or dizziness, weakness, sweating, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, or even loss of consciousness
acute adrenal crisis