Difference between revisions of "Adrenal gland" - New World Encyclopedia

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Gray's Fig. 1183 – Suprarenal glands viewed from the front.

Gray's Fig. 1184 – Suprarenal glands viewed from behind.

In mammals, the adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are the triangle-shaped endocrine glands that sit atop the kidneys, as indicated by their name (ad, "near" or "at" + renes, "kidneys"). The adrenal glands are chiefly responsible for regulating the stress response through the synthesis of corticosteroids and catecholamines, including cortisol and adrenaline.

Overview

Above each human kidney is one of the two adrenal glands.

Anatomically, the adrenal glands are located in the abdomen, situated on the anteriosuperior aspect of the kidneys. In humans, the adrenal glands are found at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra and receive their blood supply from the adrenal arteries.

The adrenal gland is separated into two distinct structures, the adrenal medulla and the adrenal cortex. Both structures receive regulatory input from the nervous system. The adrenal medulla takes up less than a quarter of the mass of the adrenal gland and is made of modified sympathetic ganglia. It is the body's main source of the catecholamine hormones adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). The adrenal medulla is at the center of the adrenal gland and is surrounded by the adrenal cortex, which forms the remaining three-quarters of the adrenal gland.

The adrenal cortex is divided into three layers, or zones. The zona glomerulosa is the outer zone and soley secretes aldosterone, a mineralcorticoid responsible for salt, water, and potassium regulation in the body. The middle zone, the zona fasciculata, secretes glucocorticoids. They increase the concentration of plasma glucose and are key in the natural stress response of the body. The zona reticularis is the inner layer and secretes mostly androgens. Some cells of the adrenal cortex belong to the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and are the source of cortisol synthesis.

Blood Supply

Although variations of the blood supply to the adrenal glands are common, there are usually three arteries that supply each adrenal gland: the superior, middle, and inferior adrenal, or suprarenal, arteries.

Each superior adrenal artery, left and right, is a branch of the phrenic artery on that side of the body. The left and right phrenic arteries supply the diaphragm and come off the aorta. The middle adrenal artery is a branch directly off the aorta, while the inferior adrenal artery branches from the aorta or the renal artery.

Pathologies

Pathologies which occur with the adrenal gland can result in either excess production (hyper) or decreased production (hypo) of secreted hormones.

Hyperfunctioning States

Excess production of aldosterone from the zona glomerulosa is referred to as hyperaldosteronism. Symptoms include hypertension, muscle weakness, hypokalemia (low serum potassium), hypernatremia (high serum sodium levels), and associated metabolic alkalosis. Common treatment modality includes the treatment of the underlying cause, if any, and aldosterone antagonists, such as spironolactone.

Cushing's syndrome, or hypercortisolism, is an endocrine disorder caused by the presence of excessive levels of cortisol in the body. Common characteristics of the disorder include moon face, buffalo hump present on the back, and trunkal obesity. Other findings include hypertension, weakness, and osteoporosis. Some patients may present with glucose intolerance resulting in diabetes and also with emotional libility. Treatment involves resolution of the underlying cause, which may be medical or surgical.

Adrenal androgen excess is due to increase production of the

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

Adrenal Gland, from Colorado State University
MedlinePlus Encylopedia 002219
Silverthorn, D. 2004. Human Physiology, An Integrated Approach (3rd Edition). San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings. ISBN 013102153

Template:Adrenal gland

Endocrine system - edit
Adrenal gland \| Corpus luteum \| Hypothalamus \| Kidney \| Ovaries \| Pancreas \| Parathyroid gland \| Pineal gland \| Pituitary gland \| Testes \| Thyroid gland

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[Image:Gray1183.png|thumb|300px|[[Gray's Anatomy|Gray's]] Fig. 1183 – Suprarenal glands viewed from the front.]]
 [[Image:Gray1184.png|thumb|300px|[[Gray's Anatomy|Gray's]] Fig. 1184 – Suprarenal glands viewed from behind.]]
-In [[mammal]]s, the '''adrenal glands''' (also known as '''suprarenal glands''') are the triangle-shaped [[endocrine gland]]s that sit atop the [[kidney]]s; their name indicates that position (''ad'', "near" or "at" + ''renes'', "kidneys"). They are chiefly responsible for regulating the [[stress (medicine)|stress]] response through the [[synthesis]] of [[corticosteroid]]s and [[catecholamine]]s, including [[cortisol]] and [[adrenaline]].
+In [[mammal]]s, the '''adrenal glands''' (also known as '''suprarenal glands''') are the triangle-shaped endocrine glands that sit atop the [[kidney]]s, as indicated by their name (''ad'', "near" or "at" + ''renes'', "kidneys"). The adrenal glands are chiefly responsible for regulating the [[stress (medicine)|stress]] response through the synthesis of [[corticosteroid]]s and [[catecholamine]]s, including [[cortisol]] and [[adrenaline]].
 == Overview ==
 [[Image:Kidney_section.jpg|thumb|200px|Above each human kidney is one of the two [[adrenal gland]]s.]]
-Anatomically, the adrenal glands are located in the abdomen, situated on the anteriosuperior aspect of the kidneys. In humans, the adrenal glands are found at the level of the 12th [[thoracic vertebra]] and receive their blood supply from the [[adrenal artery|adrenal arteries]].
+Anatomically, the adrenal glands are located in the abdomen, situated on the anteriosuperior aspect of the kidneys. In humans, the adrenal glands are found at the level of the 12th [[thoracic vertebra]] and receive their [[blood]] supply from the adrenal arteries.
-It is separated into two distinct structures, the [[adrenal medulla]] and the [[adrenal cortex]], both of which receive regulatory input from the [[nervous system]]. As its name suggests, the adrenal medulla is at the center of the adrenal gland surrounded by the adrenal cortex.
+The adrenal gland is separated into two distinct structures, the '''adrenal medulla''' and the '''adrenal cortex'''. Both structures receive regulatory input from the [[nervous system]]. The adrenal medulla takes up less than a quarter of the mass of the adrenal gland and is made of modified sympathetic ganglia. It is the body's main source of the catecholamine hormones adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). The adrenal medulla is at the center of the adrenal gland and is surrounded by the adrenal cortex, which forms the remaining three-quarters of the adrenal gland.
-The ''adrenal medulla'' is the body's main source of the catecholamine hormones [[adrenaline]] (epinephrine) and [[noradrenaline]] (norepinephrine). By contrast, some cells of the ''adrenal cortex'' belong to the [[hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis]] and are the source of [[cortisol]] synthesis. Other cortical cells produce [[androgen]]s such as [[testosterone]], while some regulate [[water]] and [[electrolyte]] concentrations by secreting [[aldosterone]].
+The adrenal cortex is divided into three layers, or zones. The ''zona glomerulosa'' is the outer zone and soley secretes [[aldosterone]], a mineralcorticoid responsible for salt, water, and potassium regulation in the body. The middle zone, the ''zona fasciculata'', secretes glucocorticoids. They increase the concentration of plasma glucose and are key in the natural stress response of the body. The ''zona reticularis'' is the inner layer and secretes mostly androgens. Some [[cell]]s of the adrenal cortex belong to the [[hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis]] and are the source of [[cortisol]] synthesis.
-== Blood supply ==
+==Blood Supply==
-Although variations of the blood supply to the adrenal glands (and indeed the kidneys themselves) are common, there are usually three arteries that supply each adrenal gland: the superior, middle and inferior suprarenal (or adrenal) arteries.
+Although variations of the blood supply to the adrenal glands are common, there are usually three arteries that supply each adrenal gland: the superior, middle, and inferior adrenal, or suprarenal, arteries.
-Each (left and right) superior suprarenal artery is a branch of the [[phrenic artery]] on that side of the body. The left and right phrenic arteries supply the [[diaphragm (anatomy)|diaphragm]], and come off the [[aorta]].
+Each superior adrenal artery, left and right, is a branch of the ''phrenic artery'' on that side of the body. The left and right phrenic arteries supply the [[diaphragm (anatomy)|diaphragm]] and come off the [[aorta]]. The middle adrenal artery is a branch directly off the aorta, while the inferior adrenal artery branches from the aorta or the renal artery.
-The middle suprarenal artery is a branch directly off the aorta, while the inferior suprarenal artery branches from the aorta or the [[renal artery]].
+==Pathologies==
+Pathologies which occur with the adrenal gland can result in either excess production (hyper) or decreased production (hypo) of secreted hormones.
+===Hyperfunctioning States===
+Excess production of aldosterone from the zona glomerulosa is referred to as ''hyperaldosteronism''. Symptoms include hypertension, muscle weakness, hypokalemia (low serum potassium), hypernatremia (high serum sodium levels), and associated metabolic alkalosis. Common treatment modality includes the treatment of the underlying cause, if any, and aldosterone antagonists, such as spironolactone.
+[[Cushing's syndrome]], or hypercortisolism, is an endocrine disorder caused by the presence of excessive levels of [[cortisol]] in the body. Common characteristics of the disorder include moon face, buffalo hump present on the back, and trunkal obesity. Other findings include hypertension, weakness, and osteoporosis. Some patients may present with glucose intolerance resulting in diabetes and also with emotional libility. Treatment involves resolution of the underlying cause, which may be medical or surgical.
+Adrenal androgen excess is due to increase production of the
 == See also ==
@@ Line 25: / Line 33: @@
 * [http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/endocrine/adrenal/index.html Adrenal Gland], from Colorado State University
 * {{MedlinePlus|002219}}
+* Silverthorn, D. 2004. Human Physiology, An Integrated Approach (3rd Edition). San Francisco: Benjamin Cummings. ISBN 013102153
 {{Adrenal gland}}