Adrenal gland

Question 1

what are the adrenal glands?

Answer 1

The adrenal (or suprarenal) glands are paired retroperitoneal (lying posterior to the peritoneum) endocrine glands

Question 2

where are the adrenal glands situated?

Answer 2

over the medial aspects of the upper poles of each kidney

Question 3

what do the adrenal glands secrete and where does it secrete into?

Answer 3

They secrete steroid and catecholamine hormones directly into the blood

Question 4

where do the adrenal glands lie within the abdomen?

Answer 4

the posterior abdomen

Question 5

what is the adrenal glands situated between?

Answer 5

between the superomedial kidney and the diaphragm

Question 6

what does the superomedial kidney and the diaphragm cover of the kidney?

Answer 6

They cover part of the anterior surface of each kidney

Question 7

what shape are the left and right glands of the adrenal glands?

Answer 7

The right gland is pyramidal in shape, contrasting with the semi-lunar shape of the left gland

Question 8

what encloses the adrenal glands and the kidneys?

Answer 8

Perinephric (or renal) fascia encloses the adrenal glands and the kidneys

Question 9

what does the perinephric fascia attach the glands to?

Answer 9

crura of the diaphragm

Question 10

what is the crura of the diaphragm separated from the kidneys by?

Answer 10

the perirenal fat

Question 11

what is anterior to the right adrenal gland?

Answer 11

inferior vena cava

right lobe of liver

Question 12

what is posterior to the right adrenal gland?

Answer 12

right crus of the diaphragm

Question 13

what is anterior to the left adrenal gland?

Answer 13

stomach, pancreas, spleen

Question 14

what is posterior to the left adrenal gland?

Answer 14

left crus of the diaphragm

Question 15

what does the adrenal glands consist of?

Answer 15

an outer connective tissue capsule, a cortex and a medulla

Question 16

what do veins and lymphatics leave each gland via?

Answer 16

the hilum

Question 17

where do arteries and nerves enter the adrenal glands?

Answer 17

at numerous sites

Question 18

what are the functional portions of the adrenal glands?

Answer 18

The outer cortex and inner medulla

Question 19

what are the outer cortex and inner medulla like in terms of glands?

Answer 19

2 separate endocrine glands with different embryological origins

Question 20

what is the outer cortex derived from embryologically?

Answer 20

embryonic mesoderm

Question 21

what is the medulla derived from embryologically?

Answer 21

ectodermal neural crest cells

Question 22

what is outer cortex and inner medulla each responsible for?

Answer 22

different secretions

Question 23

what colour is the cortex?

Answer 23

The cortex is yellowish in colour

Question 24

what does the cortex secrete?

Answer 24

2 cholesterol derived hormones - corticosteroids and androgens

Question 25

functionally, how can the adrenal cortex be divided into? (how many regions and what are they from superficial to deep?)

Answer 25

three regions which are (from superficial to deep):
zona glumerulosa
zona fasiculata
zona reticularis

Question 26

What does the zona glumerulosa produce and secrete? what is an example?

Answer 26

mineralocorticoids e.g. aldosterone

Question 27

What does the zona fasciculata produce and secrete? e.g.?

Answer 27

corticosteroids e.g. cortisol

also secretes small amounts of androgen

Question 28

what does the zona reticularis produce and secrete? e.g.?

Answer 28

androgens e.g. dehydroepiandrosterone (DHES)

also secretes small amounts of corticosteroids

Question 29

where does the medulla lie within the adrenal glands? (what colour is it?)

Answer 29

within the centre

dark brown in colour

Question 30

what does the medulla secrete (e.g.) and where does it secrete into?

Answer 30

catecholamines e.g. adrenaline directly into the bloodstream (post-ganglionic goes directly into the blood rather than an organ)

Question 31

when is adrenaline secreted from the medulla of the adrenal glands? what does it produce?

Answer 31

under stress

produces flight or fight response

Question 32

which part of the medulla of adrenal glands secrete adrenaline?

Answer 32

chromaffin cells

Question 33

what else do chromaffin cells secrete and when?

Answer 33

enkephalins 
function in pain control

Question 34

how is the blood supply to the adrenal glands like and how many arteries does it receive its blood supply via?

Answer 34

rich blood supply

via 3 different arteries

Question 35

what are the 3 arteries which supply the adrenal glands?

Answer 35

superior, middle and inferior adrenal arteries

Question 36

where does the superior adrenal artery arise from?

Answer 36

inferior phrenic artery

Question 37

where does the middle adrenal artery arise from?

Answer 37

abdominal aorta

Question 38

where does the inferior adrenal artery arise from?

Answer 38

renal arteries

Question 39

what drains the adrenal glands?

Answer 39

right and left adrenal veins

Question 40

where does the right adrenal vein drain into?

Answer 40

inferior vena cava

Question 41

where does the left adrenal vein drain into?

Answer 41

left renal vein

Question 42

describe the lymph drainage of the adrenal glands

Answer 42

lymph drainage goes to the lumbar lymph nodes by adrenal lymphatic vessels

Question 43

where do the adrenal lymphatic vessels originate from?

Answer 43

2 lymphatic plexus:
1 deep into the capsule
the other located within the medulla

Question 44

what are the adrenal glands innervated by?

Answer 44

celiac plexus

abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves

Question 45

what is sympathetic innervation to the adrenal medulla via?

Answer 45

myelinated pre-synaptic fibres

mainly T10-L1 spinal cord segments