Adrenal Glands

What is the position and form of adrenal glands? #7209b7

Position:

• Craniomedial to the kidney

• Against roof of abdomen near the thoracolumbar junction

Form: Elongated, asymmetrical and irregular

• Ventral surface has subtile hilus for entry of adrenal vessels

Adrenal glands are covered by? #7209b7

Adipose tissue that accumulates in the retroperitoneal space of this region

How to identify adrenal glands? #7209b7

• By beige appearance of the adrenal cortical tissue

• By presence of phrenicoabdominal vein

What is the adrenal gland composed of? #7209b7

• Outer cortex

• Inner medula

Adrenal Gland: Outer Cortex #7209b7

• Covered by

• Apperance

• Originates from

• Subdivided into

Covered by: Fibrous capsule

Apperance: Yellow and radially striated

Originates from: Mesenchymal cells from mesoderm

Subdivided into:

• Zona glomerulosa (outer zone)

• Zona fasciculata (middle zone)

• Zona reticularis (inner zone)

Adrenal Gland: Inner Medulla #7209b7

• Appearance

• Ordinates from

• Represents

Appearance: Darker and more uniform

Ordinates from: Sympathetic tissue

Represents: Sympathetic paraganglion

Each gland receives blood supply from? #7209b7

Branches from

• Caudal phrenic artery

• Aorta

• Renal artery

• Right adrenal vein empties into

• Left adrenal vein empties into

Right adrenal vein empties into: Vena cava

Left adrenal vein empties into: Left renal vein

Function of Adrenal Glands #7209b7

What hormones does each layer produce

• Medulla

• Zona reticularis

• Zona fasciculate

• Zona glomerulosa

Medulla: Catecholamines (stress hormone, stimulate sympathetic)

• Epinephrine

• Noreepinephrine

• Dopamine

Zona reticularis: Adrenal sex hormones

• Androgens

• Progesterone

• Estrogen

Zona fasciculate: Glucocorticoids (regulate glucose metabolism)

• Cortisol

• Cortisoterone

• Cortisone

Zona glomerulosa: Mineralcorticoids (regulatre mineral balance)

• Aldosterone