The Adrenal Gland

Question 1

where are the adrenal glands situated

Answer 1

the adrenal glands are situated on the superior pole of the kidney in the retroperitoneal space

Question 2

how are the kidneys peritonised

Answer 2

retroperitoneal

Question 3

where does the left adrenal vein drain into

Answer 3

the left renal vein

Question 4

where does the right renal vein drain into

Answer 4

directly into the inferior vena cava

Question 5

describe the adrenal medulla gland

Answer 5

it is a modified sympathetic ganglion

Question 6

what does the adrenal medulla secrete

Answer 6

catecholamines mainly:
epinephrine
norepinephrine
dopamine

Question 7

describe the adrenal cortex

Answer 7

it is a true endocrine gland derived from mesoderm

Question 8

what 3 classes of hormones does the adrenal cortex secrete

Answer 8

Mineralocorticoids (e.g aldosterone)

Glucocorticoids (e.g cortisol)

sex steroids (e.g testosterone)

Question 9

what is the role of aldosterone

Answer 9

involved in the regulation of Na+ and K+

Question 10

what is the role of cortisol

Answer 10

involved in maintaining plasma glucose

Question 11

aldosterone and cortisol are essential for survival true or false

Answer 11

true

Question 12

what hormone does the zona glomerulosa of the cortex produce

Answer 12

aldosterone

Question 13

what hormones does the zona fasciculata of the cortex produce

Answer 13

glucocorticoids

Question 14

what hormones does the zona reticularis of the cortex produce

Answer 14

sex hormones

Question 15

what are the main products of the adrenal cortex

Answer 15

cortisol and aldosterone

Question 16

what is DHEA

Answer 16

a pre-hormone of testosterone and oestrogen (marked decline with age)

Question 17

defects in 21-hydroxylase is a common cause of what

Answer 17

congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Question 18

what does congenital adrenal hyperplasia result in

Answer 18

deficiency of aldosterone and cortisol and associated physiological dysfunction of salt and glucose balance

Question 19

where is ACTH secreted from

Answer 19

anterior pituitary gland

Question 20

why does a deficit in the 21-hydroxylase cause adrenal hyperplasia

Answer 20

Lack of 21-hydroxylase inhibits synthesis of cortisol.

This removes the negative feedback on ACTH and CRH release.

Increased ACTH secretion is responsible for enlargement of adrenal glands.

Negative feedback of ACTH on CRH synthesis remains.

Question 21

95% of cortisol is bound to a carrier protein, what is it called

Answer 21

cortisol binding globulin

Question 22

all nucleated cells have cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors true or false

Answer 22

true

Question 23

to diffuse into the target cell what state does a hormone have to be in

Answer 23

it has to be unbound

Question 24

where would you find steroid hormone receptors in a cell

Answer 24

in the cytoplasm or nucleus

Question 25

what implications does loss of cortisol have

Answer 25

loss of cortisol means animals cannot properly deal with stress particulary in terms of maintaing blood glucose

Question 26

what protection does cortisol serve to the brain

Answer 26

Cortisol as a glucocorticoid is crucial in helping to protect the brain from hypoglycaemia.

Question 27

what hormone does cortisol have a permissive action on

Answer 27

it has a permissive action on glugacon which is vital

Question 28

what action does cortisol have on gluconeogenesis

Answer 28

Cortisol stimulates formation of gluconeogenic enzymes in the liver thus enhancing gluconeogenesis and glucose production. This is aided by cortisol’s action on muscle

Question 29

what action does cortisol have on proteolysis

Answer 29

cortisol stimulates the breakdown of muscle protein to provide gluconeogenic substrates for the liver.

Question 30

what action does cortisol have on lipolysis

Answer 30

cortisol stimulates lipolysis in adipose tissue which increases [FFA] plasma creating an alternative fuel supply that allows [BG] to be protected while also creating a substrate (glycerol) for gluconeogenesis

Question 31

what action does cortisol have in relation to insulin sensitivity

Answer 31

decreases insulin sensitivity of muscles and adipose tissue

Question 32

what effect does cortisol have on Ca2+ balance

Answer 32

decreases absorption of Ca2+ from the gut increases excretion of Ca2+ from the kidney resulting in a net Ca2+ loss increases bone resorption-osteoporosis

Question 33

what effect does cortisol have on mood

Answer 33

depression and impaired cognitive function are strongly associated with hypercortisolaemia.

Question 34

what are cortisols permissive effects on norepinephrine

Answer 34

effects vascular smooth muscle (a-receptor effect = vasoconstrictive) Cushings disease-associated with HT low levels of cortisol- hypotension

Question 35

what effect does cortisol have on the immune system

Answer 35

Cortisol reduces the circulating lymphocyte count, reduces antibody formation and inhibits the inflammatory response

Question 36

what are side effects of glucocorticoid therapy

Answer 36

increased severity/frequency of infection muscle wastage loss of percutaneous fat stores

Question 37

what type of hormone is aldosterone

Answer 37

mineralocorticoid

Question 38

where does aldosterone act

Answer 38

distal tubule of the kidney to determine the levels of minerals reabsorbed/ secreted

Question 39

what is the function of aldosterone

Answer 39

Aldosterone increases the reabsorption of Na+ ions and promotes the secretion of K+ ions.

Question 40

what controls the secretion of aldosterone

Answer 40

secretion of aldosterone by the adrenal cortex is primarily controlled by a complex reflex pathway originating in the kidney, the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)

Question 41

what does increased aldosterone release stimulate

Answer 41

stimulates Na+ (and H2O) retention and K+ depletion, resulting increased blood volume and increased blood pressure

Question 42

what does decreased aldosterone stimulate

Answer 42

Decreased aldosterone leads to Na+ (and H2O) loss and increase[K+]plasma, resulting in diminished blood volume and decreased blood pressure.

Question 43

aldosterone, like cortisol, is essential for life true or false

Answer 43

true!

Question 44

what is Cushings Disease

Answer 44

hypersecretion of corisol

Question 45

what is Addisons disease

Answer 45

Hyposecretion of all adrenal steroid hormones | Due to autoimmune destruction of adrenal cortex

Question 46

the adrenal medulla is not true endocrine tissue what is it

Answer 46

modified sympathetic ganglion (similar to the posterior pituitary)

Question 47

what is a pheochromocytoma

Answer 47

a rare neuroendocrine tumour found in adrenal medulla

Question 48

what does a pheochromocytoma result in

Answer 48

results in XS catecholamines (see slide)