the adrenal gland

Question 1

what are the two adrenal glands

Answer 1

adrenal medulla and cortex

Question 2

what is secreted by the adrenal cortex

Answer 2

steroid hormones like sex hormones, glucocorticoids and mineral corticoids

Question 3

what is the secretion of glucocorticoids controlled by

Answer 3

adrenocorticotropic hormone

Question 4

what is the secretion of mineralocorticoid hormone controlled by

Answer 4

renin angiotensin aldosterone system to release aldosterone to act in the nephrons

Question 5

what is a disorder of the adrenal cortex

Answer 5

adrenal corticol carcinomas, malignant tumours

Question 6

which section of the adrenal gland produces cortisol

Answer 6

the adrenal cortex

Question 7

which part of the adrenal gland is the cortex

Answer 7

the outer part

Question 8

which part of the adrenal gland is the medulla

Answer 8

the inner part

Question 9

what does the adrenal medullar produce

Answer 9

adrenaline and noradrenaline

Question 10

what is the secretion of adrenaline and noradrenaline controlled by

Answer 10

the sympathetic nervous system

Question 11

what do the adrenaline and noradrenaline hormones fall into the category of

Answer 11

catecholamine hormones

Question 12

what is addisons disease

Answer 12

destruction of both adrenal glands leading to failure of secretion of all the adrenal corticol hormones

Question 13

what are the systemic effects of addisons disease

Answer 13

weakeness
tiredness
skin pigmentation
postural hypotension
hypovolaemia (low blood volume)
low blood sodium

Question 14

what causes addisons disease

Answer 14

destruction of both adrenal glands

Question 15

when does the adrenal medulla reinforce the actions of the sympathetic nervous system

Answer 15

under the conditions of stress

Question 16

what is the name for adrenal medulla tumours

Answer 16

phaeochromaocytoma

Question 17

what are pheochromocytoma

Answer 17

benign tumours of the chromaffin cells leaeding to too much production of adrenalin and noradrenaline

Question 18

what are the systemic effects of pheochromocytomas

Answer 18

hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system leading to sweating, palpitations, and hypertension

Question 19

what does the adrenal cortex divide itself into

Answer 19

• zona glomerulosa
• zona fasciculata
• zona reticularis

Question 20

what is the zona glomerulosa

Answer 20

most superficial layer, lies beneath the renal capsule. produce mineralocorticoid hormones like aldesterone which is controlled by the RAAS system which is controlled by the distal renal tubule.

Question 21

what does aldesterone do

Answer 21

acts directly on renal tubules to increase sodium and increase water retention. this increases extracellular fluid volume and therefore increases arterial blood pressure

Question 22

what is the zona fasciculata

Answer 22

middle and widest zona of the adrenal cortex. produces gluocorticoids, mainly cortisol which is stimulated by adrenocorticotropic hormone in times of stress. also secretes weak androgens

Question 23

what is the zona reticularis

Answer 23

innermost layer of the adrenal cortex that produce precursor androgens like cholesterol