Adrenal Glands Flashcards
veinus drainage of the adrenal glands
Right and left adrenal veins drain the glands. The right adrenal vein drains into the inferior vena cava, whereas the left adrenal vein drains into the left renal vein.
arterial supply of the adrenal glands
Superior adrenal artery – arises from the inferior phrenic artery
Middle adrenal artery – arises from the abdominal aorta.
Inferior adrenal artery – arises from the renal arteries.
drenal glands
Lymph drainage is to the lumbar lymph nodes by adrenal lymphatic vessels. These vessels originate from two lymphatic plexuses – one deep to the capsule, and the other in the medulla.
neural innervation of the ;ympatic system
The adrenal glands are innervated by the coeliac plexus and abdominopelvic splanchnic nerves. Sympathetic innervation to the adrenal medulla is via myelinated pre-synaptic fibres, mainly from the T10 to L1 spinal cord segments.
qhat is anterior to the right renal gland
Inferior vena cava
Right lobe of the liver
qhat is psterior to the right renal gland
Right crus of the diaphragm
qhat is anterior to theleft renal gland
Stomach
Pancreas
Spleen
qhat is posterior to theleft renal gland
Left crus of the diaphragm
what lies in the centre of the adrenal glands? and what colour is it
the adrenal medulla
birown
what cells does the medulla contain? and what do these cells secrete
chromaffin cells, which secrete catecholamines (such as adrenaline) into the bloodstream in response to stress. These hormones produce a ‘flight-or-fight‘ response.
Chromaffin cells also secrete enkephalins which function in pain control.
what colour is the cortex
yellow
what does the cortex secrete
two cholesterol derived hormones – corticosteroids and androgens.
functionally the cortex can be divided into three regions. from superficial to deep whiat are these zones and what do they do
Zona glomerulosa – produces and secretes mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone.
Zona fasciculata – produces and secretes corticosteroids such as cortisol. It also secretes a small amount of androgens.
Zona reticularis – produces and secretes androgens such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHES). It also secretes a small amount of corticosteroids.
what is the embryological origin of the cortex and medulla?
Cortex – derived from the embryonic mesoderm.
Medulla – derived from the ectodermal neural crest cells.
desribe the layers of the adren glands
consist of an outer connective tissue capsule, a cortex and a medulla
