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Endocrine Physiology > The Adrenal Gland > Flashcards

The Adrenal Gland Flashcards

1
Q

What kind of hormone is cortisol?

A

Glucocorticoid hormone

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2
Q

What does a glucocorticoid hormone do?

A

Influences glucose metabolism

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3
Q

Binding of plasma cortisol

A

95% is bound to carrier protein - cortisol binding globulin (CBG)

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4
Q

What cells have cytoplasmic glucocorticoid receptors?

A

All nucleated cells

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5
Q

What kind of hormone is aldosterone?

A

Mineralcorticoid

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6
Q

Function of increased aldosterone

A

Increases reabsorption of Na+ ions and therefore H20 retention
Promotes the secretion of K+
Resulting in increased blood volume and increased BP

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7
Q

Function of a mineralocorticoid hormone

A

Acts on distal tubule of the kidney to determine the levels of minerals reabsorbed/excreted

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8
Q

Where is aldosterone secreted from?

A

Adrenal cortex

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9
Q

What is the secretion of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex primarily controlled by?

A

Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) system

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10
Q

Function of decreased aldosterone

A

Leads to Na+ (and H20) loss and increased [K+] plasma

Resulting in diminished blood volume and decreased BP

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11
Q

Where are the adrenal glands found?

A

Superior pole of the kidney

Retroperitoneal space

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12
Q

Where does the left adrenal vein drain into?

A

Left renal vein

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13
Q

Where does the right adrenal vein drain into?

A

IVC

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14
Q

What is found on the outside and the inside of the adrenal gland?

A

Outside - cortex

Inside - Medulla

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15
Q

How much of the adrenal gland is the medulla?

A

25%

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16
Q

How much of the adrenal gland is the cortex?

A

75%

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17
Q

Tissue of adrenal medulla

A

Modified sympathetic ganglion derived from neural crest tissue

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18
Q

Tissue of adrenal cortex

A

True endocrine derived from mesoderm

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19
Q

What type of hormones does the adrenal medulla secrete?

A

Catecholamines

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20
Q

What are the main catecholamines that the adrenal medulla secretes?

A

Epinephrine / Adrenaline
Norepinephrine
Dopamine

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21
Q

What 3 classes of steroid hormones does the adrenal cortex secrete and give an example of each?

A

Mineralcorticoids e.g. aldosterone
Glucocorticoids e.g. cortisol
Sex steroids e.g. testosterone

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22
Q

What two hormones produced by the adrenal gland are ESSENTIAL for survival?

A

Aldosterone

Cortisol

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23
Q

3 zones of the cortex

A

Zona reticularis
Zona fasciculata
Zona glomerulosa

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24
Q

What does the zona reticularis secrete?

A

Sex hormones

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25
What does the zona fasciulata secrete?
Glucocorticoids
26
What does the zona glomerulosa secrete?
Aldosterone
27
Is the adrenal medulla true endocrine tissue?
No
28
Features of post ganglionic fibres in the adrenal medulla
Do not have axons | Instead release their neurohormones (Adrenaline) directly into the blood
29
How are different steroid hormones found in different zones of the adrenal cortex?
Different enzymes are found in different adrenal zones
30
What is the pre-hormone of testosterone and oestrogen called?
DHEA
31
What does DHEA decline with?
Age
32
What does ACTH stand for?
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
33
What stimulates ACTH to be released from the anterior pituitary?
Corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH)
34
What is used for negative feedback in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal pathway?
ACTH on CRH
35
What is found in the pattern of cortisol release?
A marked circadian rhythm
36
What is the circadian rhythm of release of cortisol preceded by?
A similar pattern of release of ACTH
37
Half life in cortisol vs ACTH
Cortisol burst persists longer but half life is much longer
38
Peak of cortisol release is when?
approx. 6-9am
39
Nadir of cortisol release is when?
Midnight
40
What does nadir mean?
Lowest level
41
Other fluctuations of cortisol during the day are due to what?
Effects of other stimuli which are related to stress
42
What does cortisol have a permissive action to?
Glucagon
43
Actions of cortisol on glucose metabolism
Gluconeogenesis Proteolysis in muscle Lipolysis in adipose tissue Decreases insulin sensitivity of muscles and adipose tissue
44
Why would lipolysis be an glucocorticoid action of cortisol?
Because lipolysis in adipose tissue increases [FFA] in the plasma creating an alternative fuel supply that allows [BG] to be protected while also creating a substrate (glycerol) for gluconeogenesis
45
Actions of cortisol which are non-glucocorticoid
Negative effect on Ca2+ balance (decrease absorption from gut, increases excretion at kidneys, increase bone resorption) Impairment of mood (depression) and cognition Permissive effects of norepinephrine (vasoconstrictive) Suppression of immune system
46
How does cortisol suppress the immune system?
Reduces the circulating lymphocyte count Reduces antibody formation Inhibits the inflammatory response
47
Side effects of glucorticoid therapy
Increased severity and frequency of infection | Muscle wastage
48
What is a pheochromocytoma?
Rare neuroendocrine tumour found in the adrenal medulla
49
Pathology of pheochromocytoma
Results in excess catecholamines leading to increased HR -> increased CO and very increased BP Diabetogenic
50
Pathology of cushings disease/syndrome
Hypersecretion of cortisol
51
Causes of cushings syndrome and what does this result in?
Tumour in the adrenal cortex | PRIMARY hypercortisolism
52
Causes of cushings disease and what does this result in?
Tumour in the pituitary gland | SECONDARY hypercortisolism
53
What is there an excess of in cushings disease?
ACTH
54
What is Addison's disease?
Hyposecretion of all adrenal steroid hormones due to the autoimmune destruction of the adrenal cortex
55
What are CRH and ACTH release promoted by?
Stress
56
What are CRH and ACTH aggravated by and what does this do to the hypothalamo-pituitary axis (HPA)?
Alcohol Caffeine Lack of sleep "Disinhibits" the HPA
57
Why is care required when withdrawing glucorticoid treatment?
Due to enhanced negative feedback effects of exogenous control
58
Therapeutic cortisol effects on negative feedback
Enhances negative feedback on hypothalamus and pituitary, reducing release of CRH and ACTH
59
What does loss of trophic action of ACTH on the adrenal gland cause?
Atrophy of the gland
60
What type of hormone is aldosterone?
Mineralocorticoids
61
What is another name for sex steroids?
Androgens
62
What is noradrenaline also produced by?
Sympathetic chain

Endocrine Physiology (8 decks)

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