II. Anatomy
- Anatomy Images
Lewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
Lewis (1918) Gray's Anatomy 20th ed (in public domain at Yahoo or BartleBy)
- Adrenal Gland is a flat, triangular organ that sits atop each Kidney
- Adrenal Gland is without ducts
- Adrenal Gland is divided into two distinct anatomical and physiologic components
- Adrenal Medulla is a modified sympathetic Ganglion releasing Sympathomimetic agents (epineprine, Norepinephrine)
- Adrenal Cortex generates inter-related steroid Hormones (mineralcorticoids, Glucocorticoids and androgens)
III. Physiology
- Physiology Images
- Adrenal Medulla (sympathetic agent synthesis)
- See Sympathetic Nervous System
- See Alpha Adrenergic Receptor
- See Beta Adrenergic Receptor
- Inner structure of the Adrenal Gland
- Functions as a sympathetic Ganglion that releases Sympathomimetics in response to stressors
- Epinephrine
- Primary Adrenal Medulla released Catecholamine (more than Norepinephrine)
- Alpha Adrenergic Agonist Effects
- Vasoconstriction (increased Systemic Vascular Resistance and Blood Pressure)
- Increases Vital Organ Perfusion (myocardial perfusion, cerebral perfusion)
- Decreases Non-Vital Organ Perfusion (splanchnic, intestinal, renal and skin perfusion)
- Beta 1 Adrenergic Agonist Effects (at physiologic doses)
- Increases myocardial contractility
- Increases Heart Rate
- Beta 2 Adrenergic Agonist Effects
- Relaxes Bronchial Smooth Muscle (bronchodilation)
- Stimulates Gluconeogenesis, lipolysis and glycogen breakdown
- Norepinephrine
- Neurotransmitter for all other postganglionic sympathetic Neurons
- Potent Alpha 1 Adrenergic ReceptorAgonist Effects
- Potent arterial and venous Vasoconstriction
- Beta 1 Adrenergic ReceptorAgonist Effects
- Similar potency to Epinephrine
- Increases myocardial contractility
- No Beta 2 Adrenergic Receptor Activity
- Adrenal Cortex (steroid Hormone synthesis from Cholesterol)
- See Steroid Hormone Pathway
- Outer structure of the Adrenal Gland
- Mineralcorticoids (esp. Aldosterone)
- See Sodium and Water Homeostasis
- Increases Sodium retention and Potassium excretion
- Increases water reabsorption from Kidney
- Glucocorticoids (esp. Cortisol)
- Mobilizes available energy sources (Glucose, fats, Amino Acids)
- Increases Serum Glucose by stimulating liver Gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis
- Increases serum Fatty Acids by promoting lipolysis of adipose Triglyceride stores
- Increases blood Amino Acids by breaking down Proteins (outside liver)
- Antiinflammatory activity
- Inhibit Histamine release
- Inhibit Lymphocyte production
- Stabilize MacrophageLysosomes
- Increases gastric acid production
- Mobilizes available energy sources (Glucose, fats, Amino Acids)
- Androgens
IV. Pathophysiology
- Aldosterone
- Cortisol
- Androgens
- Epinephrine and Norepinephrine (Adrenal Medulla)
V. References
- Goldberg (2014) Clinical Physiology, Medmasters, Miami, p. 132-46
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies
| Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | The outer part of the adrenal gland (a small organ on top of each kidney). The adrenal cortex makes androgen and corticosteroid hormones. |
| Definition (NCI) | The outer layer of the adrenal gland. It secretes mineralocorticoids, androgens, and glucocorticoids. (MeSH) |
| Definition (MSH) | The outer layer of the adrenal gland. It is derived from MESODERM and comprised of three zones (outer ZONA GLOMERULOSA, middle ZONA FASCICULATA, and inner ZONA RETICULARIS) with each producing various steroids preferentially, such as ALDOSTERONE; HYDROCORTISONE; DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE; and ANDROSTENEDIONE. Adrenal cortex function is regulated by pituitary ADRENOCORTICOTROPIN. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D000302 |
| SnomedCT | 68594002 |
| LNC | LP16667-5 |
| English | Adrenal Cortex, Cortex, Adrenal, Cortical, Cortex (Glandula suprarenalis), Suprarenal cortex, Cortex of adrenal gland, Cortex of suprarenal gland, Cortex glandulae suprarenalis, adrenal cortex, Adrenal cortex, Adrenal cortex structure (body structure), Adrenal cortex structure, Adrenal cortex, NOS |
| Swedish | Binjurebark |
| Czech | nadledvinová kůra |
| Finnish | Lisämunuaiskuori |
| Russian | NADPOCHECHNIKOV KORA, НАДПОЧЕЧНИКОВ КОРА |
| Croatian | NADBUBREŽNA ŽLIJEZDA, KORA |
| Latvian | Virsnieru garoza |
| Polish | Kora nadnercza |
| Norwegian | Cortex glandulae suprarenalis, Binyrebark |
| Portuguese | Córtex Suprarrenal |
| Spanish | corteza adrenal, corteza suprarrenal, estructura de la corteza suprarrenal (estructura corporal), estructura de la corteza suprarrenal, Corteza Suprarrenal |
| German | Nebennierenrinde |
| Italian | Corteccia surrenale |
| Dutch | Bijnierschors |
| French | Corticosurrénale, Cortex surrénal, Cortico-surrénale |
Ontology: Adrenal Glands (C0001625)
| Definition (NCI) | A flattened, roughly triangular body resting upon the upper end of each kidney; it is one of the ductless glands furnishing internal secretions (epinephrine and norepinephrine from the medulla and steroid hormones from the cortex). |
| Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | A small gland that makes steroid hormones, adrenaline, and noradrenaline. These hormones help control heart rate, blood pressure, and other important body functions. There are two adrenal glands, one on top of each kidney. |
| Definition (NCI_CDISC) | Suprarenal gland. A flattened, roughly triangular body resting upon the upper end of each kidney; it is one of the ductless glands furnishing internal secretions (epinephrine and norepinephrine from the medulla and steroid hormones from the cortex). (NCI) |
| Definition (MSH) | A pair of glands located at the cranial pole of each of the two KIDNEYS. Each adrenal gland is composed of two distinct endocrine tissues with separate embryonic origins, the ADRENAL CORTEX producing STEROIDS and the ADRENAL MEDULLA producing NEUROTRANSMITTERS. |
| Definition (CSP) | paired glands situated in the retroperitoneal tissues at the superior pole of each kidney. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D000311 |
| SnomedCT | 23451007 |
| HL7 | ADR |
| LNC | LP33443-0, MTHU016717 |
| English | Adrenal Glands, Gland, Adrenal, Glands, Adrenal, Glandula suprarenalis, Set of adrenal glands, Suprarenal gland, adrenals glands, adrenal gland, adrenal glands, both adrenal glands, bilateral adrenal gland, Adrenal glands, suprarenal gland, ADRENAL GLAND, Adrenal gland, Adrenal structure, Adrenal structure (body structure), Adrenal gland, NOS, Adrenal Gland, Adrenals, Adrenal |
| Swedish | Binjurar |
| Czech | nadledviny, glandula suprarenalis, nadledvinky |
| Finnish | Lisämunuaiset |
| Russian | NADPOCHECHNIKI, НАДПОЧЕЧНИКИ |
| Spanish | estructura suprarrenal (estructura corporal), estructura de la glándula suprarrenal (estructura corporal), estructura de la glándula suprarrenal, estructura suprarrenal, Glándulas Adrenales, Glándula Adrenal, Glándula Suprarrenal, glándula adrenal, glándula suprarrenal, Glándulas Suprarrenales |
| Croatian | NADBUBREŽNE ŽLIJEZDE |
| Latvian | Virsnieres, Virsnieru dziedzeri |
| Polish | Gruczoły nadnerczowe, Nadnercza, Nadnercze |
| Norwegian | Binyrer, Glandulae suprarenales |
| Portuguese | Glândulas Suprarrenais, Glândula Suprarrenal, Glândula Adrenal, Glândula Ad-Renal, Glândulas Ad-Renais, Glândulas Adrenais |
| French | Glandes surrénales, Surrénales, Surrénale, Glande surrénale |
| German | Glandula suprarenalis, Nebennieren, Glandulae suprarenales |
| Italian | Ghiandole surrenali |
| Dutch | Bijnier, Bijnieren, Glandula suprarenalis |
Ontology: Adrenal Medulla (C0001629)
| Definition (NCI) | The inner part of the adrenal gland; it synthesizes, stores and releases catecholamines. (MeSH) |
| Definition (NCI_NCI-GLOSS) | The inner part of the adrenal gland (a small organ on top of each kidney). The adrenal medulla makes chemicals such as epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline) which are involved in sending nerve signals. |
| Definition (MSH) | The inner portion of the adrenal gland. Derived from ECTODERM, adrenal medulla consists mainly of CHROMAFFIN CELLS that produces and stores a number of NEUROTRANSMITTERS, mainly adrenaline (EPINEPHRINE) and NOREPINEPHRINE. The activity of the adrenal medulla is regulated by the SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM. |
| Definition (CSP) | inner part of the adrenal gland; it synthesizes, stores and releases catecholamines. |
| Concepts | Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component (T023) |
| MSH | D000313 |
| SnomedCT | 38254008 |
| English | Adrenal Medulla, Adrenal Medullas, Medulla, Adrenal, Medullas, Adrenal, Medullary, Medulla (Glandula suprarenalis), Suprarenal medulla, Medulla glandulae suprarenalis, Medulla of suprarenal gland, adrenal medulla, Medulla of adrenal gland, Adrenal medulla, AdM - Adrenal medulla, Adrenal medulla structure (body structure), Adrenal medulla structure |
| Swedish | Binjuremärg |
| Czech | nadledviny - dřeň |
| Finnish | Lisämunuaisydin |
| Russian | NADPOCHECHNIKOV MOZGOVOI SLOI, НАДПОЧЕЧНИКОВ МОЗГОВОЙ СЛОЙ |
| Polish | Rdzeń nadnercza |
| Norwegian | Binyremarg, Medulla glandulae suprarenalis |
| Portuguese | Medula Suprarrenal, Medula Adrenal |
| Spanish | estructura de la médula suprarrenal (estructura corporal), estructura de la médula suprarrenal, médula adrenal, médula suprarrenal, Médula Suprarrenal |
| German | Nebennierenmark |
| Italian | Midollare del surrene |
| Dutch | Bijniermerg, Medulla glandulae suprarenalis |
| French | Médullosurrénale, Médulla surrénale, Médullo-surrénale |
