Suprarenal Gland

Question 1

Purpose of adrenal/suprarenal gland

Answer 1

Maintain water and electrolyte balance
Prepare the body for fight or flight response

Question 2

Lack of secretion causes …

Answer 2

Addison’s disease

Question 3

Excessive secretion causes …

Answer 3

retention of salts and fluids

Question 4

Impact of pheochromocytoma

Answer 4

Persistant severe hypertension

Question 5

What are the subdivisions of the suprarenal gland?

Answer 5

Outer cortex (majority of SA gland) of mesodermal origin
Inner medulla (minority of SA gland) of neural crest origin

Question 6

Characteristics of outer cortex?

Answer 6

Secretes steroid hormones

Question 7

Characteristics of inner medulla?

Answer 7

Made up of chromaffin cells
Secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline or catecholamines

Question 8

Location of the suprarenal gland

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Dimensions of the suprarenal gland

Answer 9

50 mm in height
30 mm in breadth
10 mm in thickness

Question 10

Weight of suprarenal gland

Answer 10

5g

Question 11

Shape of right suprarenal gland

Answer 11

Triangular or pyramidal in shape

Question 12

Sections of the right suprarenal gland

Answer 12

Apex
Base
Two surfaces—anterior and posterior
Three borders—anterior, medial and lateral

Question 13

Shape of left suprarenal gland

Answer 13

Semilunar

Question 14

Sections of the left suprarenal gland

Answer 14

Two ends — Upper (narrow end) and lower (rounded end)
Two borders — Medial (convex) and lateral (concave)
Two surfaces — Anterior and posterior

Question 15

Sheaths of the suprarenal gland

Answer 15

Areolar tissue immediately surrounding the SA gland which contains fat
Perirenal fascia outside

Question 16

Zones of the cortex

Answer 16

Zona glomerulosa (outer zone)
Zona fasciculata (middle zone)
Zona reticularis (inner zona)

Question 17

Function of the zona glomerulosa

Answer 17

Produces mineralocorticoids

Question 18

Function of the zona fasciculata

Answer 18

Produces glucocorticoids

Question 19

Function of the zona reticularis

Answer 19

Sex hormones

Question 20

What cells form the medulla?

Answer 20

Chromaffin cells

Question 21

What do the medulla cells secrete?

Answer 21

Adrenaline and noradrenaline

Question 22

Arterial supply of the suprarenal gland

Answer 22

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)

Question 23

Venous drainage of the suprarenal gland

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Lymphatic drainage of the suprarenal gland

Answer 24

Lateral aortic nodes

Question 25

Nerve supply of the suprarenal gland

Answer 25

Suprarenal medulla: Myelinated preganglionic sympathetic fibres
Chromaffin cells: Postganglionic sympathetic neurons