Exam 2 Flashcards
Which of the glands in the adrenal gland is known as a true endocrine gland?
Adrenal cortex
What 2 distinct glands make up the adrenal gland?
The adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex
Which gland in the adrenal gland is actually a neuro-endocrine gland that is activated by the SymNS?
Adrenal medulla
What are all the steroid hormones synthesized from?
Cholesterol
What hormone is considered to be the “stress” hormone that regulates the body’s response to long term stress?
Cortisol
What hormone is the neuro-hormone from the adrenal medulla that helps the body regulate short term stress?
Epinephrine
What hormone regulates sodium reabsorption in sweat and salivary glands, the colon and the kidney?
Aldosterone
What is cortisol’s most important metabolic function?
Protecting body from hypoglycemia
How does cortisol play a “permissive” effect on glucagon and epinephrine?
It allows glucagon and epinephrine to fully function to promote gluconeogensis and glycogenolysis in the liver.
What is hypoglycemia?
Low blood glucose (low blood sugar)
What is a major cause of hypoglycemia?
DK
What metabolic effects does Cortisol have on the body?
- elevates blood glucose by promoting gluconeogensis in the liver
- blocks the effect of insulin in insulin-sensitive tissues
- increases lipolysis in adipose tissue
- increases skeletal muscle catabolism
What effects does Cortisol have on bone and calcium?
- decreases intestinal Ca2+ absorption
- increases renal Ca2+ excretion
- catabolic to bone tissue
In therapy for someone taking exogenous glucocorticoids, what implications are there for bone mass?
Monitor for BMD since it favors bone resorption; can cause osteoporosis
What are cytokines?
Compounds that promote WBC migration and promote inflammatory responses
What kind of anti-inflammatory actions does Cortisol cause to occur?
- limits cytokine release from cells of the immune system
- inhibits release of a number of cytokines that act to increase CRH release which helps to control immune and inflammatory responses
What are the three types of secretions from the adrenal cortex and an example of each?
- Glucocorticoids (cortisol)
- mineralocorticoid (aldosterone)
- androgens (testosterone)
What are the 2 types of glucocorticoid receptor responses?
- direct interaction that increases transcription
- interaction with other transcription factors to repress gene transcription of other genes
How does the GR and MR know the difference between the 2 structures of Cortisol and Aldosterone?
Aldosterone has a double bond O on the methyl group between the C and D part of its steroid nucleus; Cortisol does not.
When is Cortisol secretion at its highest?
In the mornings
What is meant by a “primary” disease state?
The disease is in the gland
What is meant by a “secondary” disease state?
Disease is in the hypothalamus of pituitary
In hypersecretion, high levels of cortisol, low levels of ACTH and low levels of CRH results in what kind of disease?
Primary (in adrenal gland)
In hypersecretion, high levels of Cortisol, high levels of ACTH and low levels of CRH results in what kind of disease state?
Secondary (in hypothalamus)
In hypersecretion, high levels of Cortisol, ACTH and CRH results in what kind of disease state?
Secondary (in the pituitary gland)
In hyposecretion, low levels of Cortisol, high levels of ACTH and high levels of CRH results in what kind of disease state?
Primary (in the adrenal gland)
In hyposecretion, low levels of cortisol, low levels of ACTH and high levels of CRH results in what kind of disease state?
Secondary (in the hypothalamus)
What is Cushing’s Syndrome?
Hypercortisolism from any cause
How is Cushing’s Syndrome different from Cushing’s Disease?
Cushing’s Disease results from a secondary disease state in which there is a tumor in the pituitary gland that doesn’t respond to negative feedback.
What is the most common cause of Hypercortisolism?
Iatrogenic Hypercortisolism
Does gender affect Hypercortisolism? If so, what gender does it affect?
Yes, women are 3x more like to have an adrenal tumor and 8x more likely to have a pituitary tumor
