Week 7 - Adrenal gland

Question 1

Where is the adrenal gland located?

Answer 1

Situated on the superior portion of the kidneys

Question 2

Adrenal glands are comprised of (2)

Answer 2

Inner Medulla and Outer Cortex

Question 3

Adrenal cortex has 3 layers, what are they

Answer 3

Zona Glomerulosa (superficial), Zona Fasciculata, Zona Reticularis (deep)

Question 4

Adrenal Medulla hormones

Answer 4

Catecholamines - Epinephrine (80%) and Norepinephrine (20%)

Question 5

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine stimulation and target tissue

Answer 5

Stimulation: Emotional excitement, injury, exercise, stress, low blood glucose
Target tissue: Heart, liver, blood vessels and adipose tissue

Question 6

Epinephrine and norepinephrine response in target tissues (7)

Think “fight or flight” responses

Answer 6

Increase release of glucose from liver into blood, increase release of fatty acids from adipose tissue into blood, increase heart rate, decrease blood flow to most internal organs, increase blood flow to skeletal muscles and heart, increase blood pressure, decrease the function of visceral organs, increase the metabolic rate of skeletal muscles

Question 7

Zona Glomerulosa cells secrete this

Answer 7

Mineralocorticoids - mainly the hormone Aldosterone

Question 8

Aldosterone stimulation, target tissue and response

Answer 8

Stimulation: low blood pressure
Target tissue: kidney
Response: Increases Sodium (Na+) reabsorption which causes water reabsorption and increases blood volume (decreases pressure)

Question 9

Zona Fasciculata cells secrete this

Answer 9

Glucocorticoid hormones - major one is Cortisol

Question 10

Cortisol stimulation, target tissue, response

Answer 10

Stimulation: low blood glucose and stress stimulate CRH, which stimulates ACTH which travels to adrenal cortex and increases cortisol secretion
Target tissue: most tissues - skeletal muscle, liver, adipose tissue, immune tissues
Response: Metabolic - increases protein and lipid breakdown, increases blood glucose levels
Developmental - Maturation of tissues
Anti-inflammatory - Decrease the intensity of inflammatory and immune response by decreasing the number of inflammatory chemicals and white blood cells

Question 11

What inhibits ACTH

Answer 11

High levels of cortisol (negative feedback)

Question 12

Zona Reticularis cells secrete this

Answer 12

Androgens

Question 13

What are androgens and what do they do

Answer 13

Steroid hormone, function as weak androgens (males produce more of them)

Question 14

Androgens target tissue and response

Answer 14

Target tissue: many tissues
Response: Androgen casuses the development of male secondary characteristics (not as potent as testosterone secreted by testes)
Development of secondary sex characteristics in females