adrenal gland

Question 1

Where is the adrenal gland located?

Answer 1

retroperitoneal
On the upper pole of each kidney

Question 2

What is the arterial supply for the adrenal gland?

Answer 2

Superior, middle, and inferior suprarenal arteries

Question 3

Into which veins does the adrenal gland drain?

Answer 3

Right and left suprarenal veins
Venous drainage is different for the left and right adrenal gland. The left suprarenal vein empties into the left renal vein and then into the IVC, while the right suprarenal vein drains directly into the inferior vena cava

Question 4

Where do the lymphatics of the adrenal gland drain?

Answer 4

Left aortic and right caval lymph nodes

Question 5

What are the two layers of the adrenal gland?

Answer 5

Adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla

Question 6

From what is the adrenal cortex derived?

Answer 6

Mesoderm

Question 7

From what is the adrenal medulla derived?

Answer 7

Neural crest cells

Question 8

What type of cells compose the adrenal medulla?

Answer 8

Chromaffin cells

Question 9

What do chromaffin cells secrete?

Answer 9

Catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine)

Question 10

What are the three layers of the adrenal cortex?

Answer 10

Zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis

Question 11

what does the zona glomerulosa do

Answer 11

synthesis of mineralocorticoids

Question 12

what does the zone fasciculata do

Answer 12

glucocorticoids

Question 13

what does the zone reticularis do

Answer 13

androgens

Question 14

What do mineralocorticoids regulate?

Answer 14

Renal sodium and water reabsorption and potassium excretion

Question 15

What is the role of glucocorticoids?

Answer 15

Glucose metabolism

Question 16

What are androgens precursors for?

Answer 16

Estrogen and testosterone

Question 17

What is adrenal insufficiency caused by?

Answer 17

Infection, hemorrhage, or autoimmune destruction

Question 18

What causes hyperaldosteronism?

Answer 18

Hyperplasia or adenoma

Question 19

What can cause hypercortisolism?

Answer 19

Hyperplasia, adenoma, or exogenous administration

Question 20

Fill in the blank: The adrenal medulla is composed of _______.

Answer 20

Chromaffin cells

Question 21

what are the shapes of the adrenal glands

Answer 21

The left adrenal gland is shaped like a crescent, while the right resembles a pyramid.

Question 22

the adrenal glands are surrounded by

Answer 22

perinephric fat and the renal fascia

Question 23

the main mineralocorticoid is

Answer 23

aldosterone

Question 24

the main glucocorticoid is

Answer 24

cortisol

Question 25

the substrate is oestrogen and testosterone synthesis is

Answer 25

dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

Question 26

synthesis of all steroid hormones begins with

Answer 26

the common precursor molecule, cholesterol, which is converted to pregnenolone via cholesterol desmolase

Question 27

cholesterol desmolase may be inhibited by

Answer 27

azole antifungals

Question 28

what does aldosterone do

Answer 28

Aldosterone stimulates potassium excretion in the collecting duct of the kidney as well as sodium and water retention.

Question 29

what are the end systemic effects of aldosterone changes in the collecting duct

Answer 29

increase blood pressure hypokalaemia increase pH

Question 30

how is aldosterone made

Answer 30

cholesterol is covered into pregnenolone via cholesterol desmolase (all steroid hormones start with this step) pregnenolone is covered into progesterone progesterone is converted into 11-deoxycorticosterone by 21-hydroxylase and then into corticosterone by 11B-hydroxylase corticosterone is covered into aldosterone by aldosterone synthase

Question 31

defective enzyme production of 21-hydroxylase or 11B-hydroxylase will result in

Answer 31

congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Question 32

deficiency of aldosterone synthase will result in

Answer 32

isolated hypoaldosteronism

Question 33

renin is secreted in response to

Answer 33

secreted by juxtaglomerular cells in response to low renal blood pressure, beta-1 adrenergic receptor activation or NaCl deficiency

Question 34

renin promotes the conversion of

Answer 34

angiotensinogen (produced in the liver) to angiotensin 1

Question 35

what happens to angiotensin 1

Answer 35

covered to angiotensin 2 by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)

Question 36

where is the angiotensin converting enzyme

Answer 36

highest concentration in the lungs where it is produced by vascular endothelial cells

Question 37

what does angiotensin II do

Answer 37

causes vasoconstriction and triggers the secretion of aldosterone

Question 38

what stimulates zone glomerulosa cells to produce more aldosterone

Answer 38

increase in serum potassium concentration

Question 39

what peptide negatively inhibits renin

Answer 39

atrial natriuretic peptide

Question 40

what stimulates atrial natriuretic peptide release

Answer 40

released from atrial myocytes in response to increased stretch on the atrium when there is increased systemic arterial blood pressure

Question 41

what does atrial natriuretic peptide do

Answer 41

inhibits renin release causes vasodilation, natriuresis and therefore diuresis