II. Physiology
- Cortisol is synthesized in the Adrenal Cortex, derived from Cholesterol
- Cortisol secretion is stimulated by Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) in response to stress
- See Pituitary Gland
- Cortisol functionality
- 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)
- Within liver, Cortisol induces Protein synthesis
- Antiinflammatory activity
- Inhibit Histamine release
- Inhibit Lymphocyte production
- Stabilize MacrophageLysosomes
- Increases gastric acid production
- Mobilizes available energy sources (Glucose, fats, Amino Acids)
- References
- Goldberg (2014) Clinical Physiology, Medmasters, Miami, p. 138-9
III. Interpretation: Normal
- Cortisol 8 am: 4-19 mcg/dl
- Consider dynamic testing if early morning testing<13 mcg/dl
- Cortisol 4 pm: 2-15 mcg/dl
IV. Interpretation: Increased
- Cushing's Disease
- Ectopic ACTH production
- Small-cell Lung Cancer
- Chronic Renal Failure
- Pregnancy
V. Interpretation: Decreased
- Primary or Secondary adrenocortical insufficiency
- Anterior pituitary dysfunction
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Related Studies
| Concepts | Laboratory Procedure (T059) |
| SnomedCT | 269982009, 166477006, 143806005, 271535005 |
| Dutch | serum cortisol |
| French | Cortisol sérique |
| German | Kortisol im Serum |
| Italian | Cortisolo sierico |
| Portuguese | Cortisol sérico |
| Spanish | Cortisol en suero, determinación de nivel sérico de cortisol, medición sérica de cortisol (procedimiento), medición sérica de cortisol |
| Japanese | 血清コルチゾール, ｹｯｾｲｺﾙﾁｿﾞｰﾙ |
| English | Serum cortisol, serum cortisol measurement, serum cortisol measurement (lab test), serum cortisol, serum cortisol level, serum cortisol level test, Serum cortisol measurement, Serum cortisol (& level), Serum cortisol (& level) (procedure), Serum cortisol level, Serum cortisol measurement (procedure) |
| Czech | Kortizol v séru |
| Hungarian | Szérum kortizol |
Ontology: Blood cortisol (C0853179)
| Concepts | Laboratory Procedure (T059) |
| Japanese | 血中コルチゾール, ｹｯﾁｭｳｺﾙﾁｿﾞｰﾙ |
| Czech | Kortizol v krvi |
| English | Blood cortisol |
| Italian | Cortisolo ematico |
| Hungarian | Kortizol vérszint |
| Portuguese | Cortisol no sangue |
| Spanish | Cortisol en sangre |
| Dutch | bloed cortisol |
| French | Cortisolémie |
| German | Kortisol im Blut |
