Suprarenal Gland Flashcards
Purpose of adrenal/suprarenal gland
Maintain water and electrolyte balance
Prepare the body for fight or flight response
Lack of secretion causes …
Addison’s disease
Excessive secretion causes …
retention of salts and fluids
Impact of pheochromocytoma
Persistant severe hypertension
What are the subdivisions of the suprarenal gland?
Outer cortex (majority of SA gland) of mesodermal origin
Inner medulla (minority of SA gland) of neural crest origin
Characteristics of outer cortex?
Secretes steroid hormones
Characteristics of inner medulla?
Made up of chromaffin cells
Secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline or catecholamines
Location of the suprarenal gland
Lies in the epigastrium
Above the upper pole of kidney
In front of diaphragm crus
Opposite vertebral end of 11th intercostal space and 12th rib
Dimensions of the suprarenal gland
50 mm in height
30 mm in breadth
10 mm in thickness
Weight of suprarenal gland
5g
Shape of right suprarenal gland
Triangular or pyramidal in shape
Sections of the right suprarenal gland
Apex
Base
Two surfaces—anterior and posterior
Three borders—anterior, medial and lateral
Shape of left suprarenal gland
Semilunar
Sections of the left suprarenal gland
Two ends — Upper (narrow end) and lower (rounded end)
Two borders — Medial (convex) and lateral (concave)
Two surfaces — Anterior and posterior
Sheaths of the suprarenal gland
Areolar tissue immediately surrounding the SA gland which contains fat
Perirenal fascia outside
Arterial supply of the suprarenal gland
Superior suprarenal artery (branch of the inferior phrenic artery)
Middle suprarenal artery (branch of the abdominal aorta)
Inferior suprarenal artery (branch of the renal artery)
Venous drainage of the suprarenal gland
Each gland is drained by one vein
Right suprarenal vein: Drains into the inferior vena cava
Left suprarenal vein: Drains into the left renal vein
