Physiology of the Adrenal Cortex

Question 1

Origin of cortex

Answer 1

80% mesodermal

Question 2

Origin of marrow

Answer 2

20% ectodermal origin

Question 3

Right renal vein drains into

Answer 3

Vena cava

Question 4

Left renal vein drains into

Answer 4

Left renal vein

Question 5

Which hormones are involved in stress response

Answer 5

Cortisol and cathecolamines

Question 6

Glomerular zone produced

Answer 6

Aldosterone

Question 7

Fascicular zone produces

Answer 7

Cortisol

Question 8

Reticular zone produces

Answer 8

Sex hormones

Question 9

Hypothalamus –> ??

Answer 9

CRH

Question 10

Pituitary gland –>

Answer 10

ACTH

Question 11

Adrenal gland cortex –>

Answer 11

Androgens and cortisol

Question 12

Which has a negative effect on all hormones

Answer 12

Cortisol

Question 13

Which rythms are parallel

Answer 13

Cortisol and ACTH

Question 14

CRH reaches anterior or posterior pituitary gland

Answer 14

Anterior

Question 15

Interaction w/ cell receptors of corticotrophic cells causes

Answer 15

cAMP and PKA activation for expression of ACTH

Question 16

What enhances ACTH secretion

Answer 16

Ca++, CRH, AVP (Vasopressin)

Question 17

Where are corticotrophic cells found

Answer 17

In anterior pituitary

Question 18

ACTH interacts mainly w/ which zones of the adrenal cortex

Answer 18

Fasciculata –> cortisol

Reticular –> androgens and estrogens

Question 19

Cortisol is a type of

Answer 19

Steroid hormone

Question 20

What is promoted in zona fasciculata upon ACTH interaction

Answer 20

Entry of LDL-Cholesterol for cortisol synthesis

Question 21

What transports cholesterol to inner part of mitochondria

Answer 21

StAR protein

Question 22

What produces StAR protein

Answer 22

cAMP and PKA activation cause the novo synthesis of StAR protein

Question 23

The 3 paths of steroid hormone synthesis

Answer 23

Mineralcorticoid
Glucocorticoid
Androgen

Question 24

Enzyme in charge of mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid paths for steroid hormone synthesis

Answer 24

21-hydroxylase

Question 25

21-hydroxylase deficiency causes

Answer 25

Congenital adrenal insufficiency

Question 26

Consequence of congenital adrenal insufficiency

Answer 26

Increased androgen levels

Question 27

% of cortisol circulating free

Answer 27

5-8%, which is the active cortisol

Question 28

Protein responsible for balancing the free fraction of cortisol

Answer 28

Transcortin

Question 29

Function of transcortin

Answer 29

Transport cortisol to prevent loss in urine

Question 30

What increases the levels of transcortin

Answer 30

Estrogen

Question 31

Some corticoids have

Answer 31

Mineralcorticoid effects

Question 32

Mineralocorticoid effect

Answer 32

Regulation of electrolytes in kidney

Question 33

Main action of cortisol

Answer 33

Anti-inflammatory

Question 34

Effect of cortisol on insulin

Answer 34

Decreases it

Question 35

Effect of cortisol on immunosuppressives

Answer 35

Increases it

Question 36

Cortisol is a catabolic hormone therefore…

Answer 36

Causes glucose production

Question 37

How is cortisol an anti-inflammatory hormone

Answer 37

It prevents lymphocytes and macrophages so cytokines are not produces

Question 38

Problem w/ cortisol being a catabolic hormone

Answer 38

It causes glucose production –> diabetes

And causes protein degradation

Question 39

Angiotensin II effect on adrenal gland

Answer 39

Aldosterone secretion

Question 40

Impact of aldosterone on Na+, Cl-, K+, H2O

Answer 40

Na+ and Cl- reabsorption
K+ excretion
H2O retention

Question 41

Impact of angiotensin II on pituitary gland

Answer 41

ADH secretion for H2O reabsorption

Question 42

Impact of angiotensin II on sympathetic system

Answer 42

Causes vasoconstiction –> increase blood pressure