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+ CAPS 301: Respiratory, Renal, GI, Endocrinology, Reproduction > Adrenal Glands > Flashcards

Adrenal Glands Flashcards

1
Q

Where are the adrenal glands?

A

one on top of each kidney

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2
Q

Each adrenal gland is structurally and functionally…

A

two endocrine glands in one:

  • inner adrenal medulla
  • outer adrenal cortex
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3
Q

What is the inner adrenal medulla made up of?

A

catecholamine-secreting nervous tissue, and acts as part of sympathetic nervous system

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4
Q

What does the outer adrenal cortex consist of?

A

steroid-secreting tissues

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5
Q

What forms the bulk (80%) of the adrenal gland?

A

outer adrenal cortex

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6
Q

What are the ‘cells’ of the adrenal medulla?

A

highly modified sympathetic postganglionic neuron

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7
Q

What do the cells of the adrenal medulla produce?

A

catecholamines

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8
Q

What are the two types of catecholamines?

A
  • epinephrine (E) or adrenaline

- norepinephrine (NE) or noradrenaline

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9
Q

Where is epinephrine and norepinephrine stored?

A

in granules similar to neurotransmitter storage vesicles

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10
Q

When are large amounts of catecholamines released?

A

activation of sympathetic nervous system in response to stress (including exercise) or fight-or-flight response

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11
Q

When large amounts of catecholamines are released, how much is epinephrine, and how much is norepinephrine?

A

80% of it is E

20% of it is NE

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12
Q

How are cells of the adrenal cortex arranged?

A

into three zones:

  • zona glomerulosa
  • zona fasciculata
  • zona reticularis
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13
Q

What does each zone of the adrenal cortex do?

A

produces several corticosteroids

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14
Q

What is zona glomerulosa, and what does it produce?

A

outer-most layer of cells that produces mineralocorticoids

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15
Q

What is zona fasciculata, and what does it produce?

A

middle zone composed of cells that secrete glucocorticoids (metabolic hormones)

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16
Q

What is zona reticularis, and what does it produce?

A

innermost (directly adjacent to adrenal medulla) layer that produces small amounts of adrenal sex steroid

17
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What do mineralocorticoids do?

A

regulate Na+ and K+ balance and blood pressure homeostasis

18
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What is aldosterone?

A

most potent mineralocorticoid in humans, and accounts for 95%+ of production

19
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What is aldosterone release induced by?

A

elevated blood K+ and activation of renin-angiotensin system (RAS)

20
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What is aldosterone’s primary target organs? What does it do there?

A

distal and collecting tubules of kidney, where it stimulates reabsorption of Na+ ions from urine back to bloodstream, while promoting elimination of K+

21
Q

Mineralocorticoids – Diagram

A

–

22
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What do glucocorticoids do?

A

exert a wide range of actions in multiple target tissues

23
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What is one type of mineralocorticoid?

A

aldosterone

24
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What is one type of glucocorticoid?

A

cortisol

25
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What is cortisol?

A

most important glucocorticoid in humans

26
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What are cortisol’s target tissues?

A

liver, fat, muscle, intestines, CNS

27
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What can cortisol regulate, and how?

A

plasma glucose levels by activating gluconeogenesis in liver

28
Q

Adrenal Cortex

When does cortisol’s blood levels increase? What happens

A

increase significantly during stress – results in breakdown of adipose tissue and release of fatty acids, which can be used by many tissues as source of energy, “saving” glucose for the brain (“glucose sparing”)

29
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What type of effects does chronic excess of cortisol have?

A

significant anti-inflammatory and anti-immune effects

30
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What are glucocorticoid drugs used for?

A

to control symptoms of inflammatory disorders (ie. rheumatoid arthritis or allergic responses)

31
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What are the metabolic effects of cortisol?

A
  • increase hepatic gluconeogenesis
  • increase lipolysis → increase fatty acids in blood (alternative fuel for most tissues)
  • both effects – glucose sparing for brain (which is critical during prolonged stress)
32
Q

Adrenal Cortex

What is cortisol secretion regulated by?

A

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis

33
Q

Adrenal Cortex

Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenocortical Axis – Diagram

A

–

34
Q

What is Addison’s disease?

A

uncommon disorder that occurs due to low cortisol, and often aldosterone, production

+ CAPS 301: Respiratory, Renal, GI, Endocrinology, Reproduction (32 decks)

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