Histology Flashcards
Fetal adrenal glands larger than kidneys t/f?
TRUE
What role do the adrenal hormones play in the birth?
maturation of the lung and other systems
gut closure
What chemical are the fetal adrenal glands responsive to?
ACTH
How many arteries and veins for each adrenal gland? Where do they come form/go to?
3 aa, 2vv
2 aa come from aorta, 1 off renal artery
right adrenal vein goes into vena cave
left goes into left renal vein
Explain the cell organisation of:
Zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis
ZG- acinar structure
ZF- alongated
ZR-disorganised and fluffy
What 2 arterioles branch off the capsular artery? Explain them and their course
cortical arterioles - glomerulosa, sinusoids and reticularis then medulla
long medullary arterioles
- into medulla
What nerve fibres run straight to the medulla?
sympathetic nerve
What drains all the blood of the adrenal gland?
medullary veins
Explain the sympathetic innervation of the adrenal medulla. How does it differ to other organs?
is like a modified neural ganglion
List 3 special ultrastructure features of medullary cells. How do the mitochondria in the medulla differ from the cortex?
lots of granules in cytoplasm
lots of RER from peptide-secreting cell
normal mitochondria
cortex has different mitochondria
What kind of cells are present in the zona glomerulosa?
columnar/ovoid cells
How would you identify the zona fasciculata in histology?
has sinusoids running between columns
How would you identify the zona reticularis in histology?
seperated by sinusoids as well and arranged in columns, fluffy appearance as well
What’s unique about the mitochondria of steroid secreting cells?
prominent tubular cristae
List 3 unique features you’d expect to see in the ultrastructure of cells in the cortex
smooth ER
lipid droplets
tubular cristae in mitochondria
