W5 - Endocrine System 2 Flashcards
The adrenal cortex secretes steroid hormones, sex HMs and two more, what are they and what do they do?
Mineralocorticoids - fluid and electrolyte balance, Glucocorticoids - carbohydrate and lipid balance
List the names of the ‘zonas’ of the adrenal cortex (outer to inner)
Glomerulosa, fasciculata and reticularis
The cells in the ZG are in clusters separated by fibrous septae and secrete mineralocorticoids, what is the main one and what does it do?
Aldosterone, acts on renal tubules to increase sodium and water retention
Cells in the ZF are in columns with a lot of pale cytoplasm, this is one cell thick, what is the main glucocorticoid secreted?
Cortisol
In the ZR the cells are in irregular groups separated by wide calibre capillaries, what is there not much of in these cells?
Lipids
The ZR produces adrenal androgens and glucocorticoids, what are two examples of adrenal androgens?
DHEA and DHEAS
The adrenal medulla has clusters of cells with basophilic cytoplasm and is very vascular, what is secreted here?
Adrenaline and norepinephrine
What is the cell type found in the medulla and if you stain them with chromium salt fixative what colour do they go?
Chromaffin cells and they go brown
Why is the medulla particularly vascular?
Need to carry adrenaline from chromaffin cells in the bloodstream
Where are there the most islets of langerhan?
In the tail of the pancreas
How are the langerhans cells arranged?
In clusters and strands around capillary networks
What do the alpha, beta and delta cells secrete in the pancreas?
Alpha - glucagon, beta - insulin, delta - somatostatin
What stains pale in the pancreas?
Islets of langerhans
What does the pineal gland sit anterior/rostral to?
The cerebellum
What do pinealocytes do?
Secrete melatonin into capillaries via axon-modified neurons
