Lecture 27 Flashcards
Where are the adrenal glands?
Superior to each kidney, they are lateral to the spinal cord and blood vessels.
What are the two seperate glands?
Adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla
What do the 3 layers of adrenal cortex release?
Outermost layer secretes mineral corticoids like aldosterone, middle layer secretes cortisol, the inner layer produces androgens
What does the adrenal medulla produce and where is it?
It is in the middle of the adrenal gland and produces adrenaline
When is cortisol produced?
It is produced when required
How does it get around the body?
Carried in the blood bound to a carrier protein
What are the steps of cortisol binding, and response in the cell?
- It travels to the target cell and passes through the cell membrane
- Then binds to a specific receptor
- Moves into the nucleus
- Activates specific genes
- mRNA to form protein
- Protein has effect on the cell
- It takes a long time to effect
What can cortisol release?
Stress or non-stress/ neural inputs
What does the hypothalamus secrete when under stress or non stress neural inputs
Corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH)
CRH causes the anterior pituitary gland to secrete what?
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
What does the adrenal cortex secrete after being signaled by ACTH?
Cortisol
What response does cortisol have on muscles?
An increase in protein breakdown and a decrease in glucose uptake
What response does cortisol have on fats?
Increases fat breakdown and decreases glucose uptake
What response does cortisol have on liver?
Glucose synthesis
What are some other effects that occur from cortisol?
Helps one to cope with stress but in the long-term is suppresses immune system, it is also essential for maintaining normal blood pressure
Cortisol secretion is controlled by what feedback?
Negative feedback (EXCEPT during the stress response)