Adrenal gland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Adrenal gland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In mammals, the adrenal glands (also known as suprarenal glands) are endocrine glands that sit on top of the kidneys; in humans, the right suprarenal gland is triangular shaped while the left suprarenal gland is semilunar shaped. They are chiefly responsible for releasing hormones in conjunction with stress through the synthesis of corticosteroids such as cortisol and catecholamines, such as epinephrine. Adrenal glands affect kidney function through the secretion of aldosterone, a hormone involved in regulating plasma osmolarity.

Adrenal gland

Contents
1 Anatomy and function 1.1 Cortex 1.2 Medulla 1.3 Blood supply 2 Terminology 3 See also 4 References 5 External links
Endocrine system

Anatomy and function

Anatomically, the adrenal glands are located in the retroperitoneum situated atop the kidneys, one on each side. They are surrounded by an adipose capsule and renal fascia. In humans, the adrenal glands are found at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra. Each adrenal gland is separated into two distinct structures, the adrenal cortex and medulla, both of which produce hormones. The cortex mainly produces cortisol, aldosterone, and androgens, while the medulla chiefly produces epinephrine and norepinephrine. The combined weight of the adrenal glands in an adult human ranges from 7 to 10 grams.[1]

Adrenal gland Latin Gray's System glandula suprarenalis subject #277 1278 endocrine Artery = superior suprarenal artery, middle suprarenal artery, Inferior suprarenal artery Vein Nerve Lymph suprarenal veins celiac plexus, renal plexus lumbar glands

Cortex
The adrenal cortex is devoted to the synthesis of corticosteroid hormones. Specific cortical cells produce particular hormones including cortisol, corticosterone, androgens such as testosterone, and aldosterone. Under normal unstressed conditions, the human adrenal glands produce the

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equivalent of 3540 mg of cortisone acetate per day.[2] In contrast to the direct innervation of the medulla, the cortex is regulated by neuroendocrine hormones secreted by the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, as well as by the renin-angiotensin system.

Precursor MeSH

mesoderm, neural crest Adrenal+Glands

Dorlands/Elsevier Adrenal gland

The adrenal cortex comprises three zones, or layers. This anatomic zonation can be appreciated at the microscopic level, where each zone can be recognized and distinguished from one another based on structural and anatomic characteristics.[3] The adrenal cortex exhibits functional zonation as well: by virtue of the characteristic enzymes present in each zone, the zones produce and secrete distinct hormones.[3] Zona glomerulosa (outer) The outermost layer, the zona glomerulosa is the main site for production of mineralocorticoids, mainly aldosterone, which is largely responsible for the long-term regulation of blood pressure. Zona fasciculata Situated between the glomerulosa and reticularis, the zona fasciculata is responsible for producing glucocorticoids, chiefly cortisol in humans. The zona fasciculata secretes a basal level of cortisol but can also produce bursts of the hormone in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary. Zona reticularis The inner most cortical layer, the zona reticularis produces androgens, mainly dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S) in humans.

Medulla
The adrenal medulla is the core of the adrenal gland, and is surrounded by the adrenal cortex. The chromaffin cells of the medulla, named for their characteristic brown staining with chromic acid salts, are the body's main source of the circulating catecholamines adrenaline (epinephrine) and noradrenaline (norepinephrine). Derived from the amino acid tyrosine, these water-soluble hormones are major hormones underlying the fight-or-flight response. To carry out its part of this response, the adrenal medulla receives input from the sympathetic nervous system through preganglionic fibers originating in the thoracic spinal cord from T5T11.[4] Because it is innervated by preganglionic nerve fibers, the adrenal medulla can be considered as a specialized sympathetic ganglion.[4] Unlike other sympathetic ganglia, however, the adrenal medulla lacks distinct synapses and releases its secretions directly into the blood. Cortisol also promotes epinephrin synthesis in the medulla. Produced in the cortex, cortisol reaches the adrenal medulla and at high levels, the hormone can promote the upregulation of phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), thereby increasing epinephrine synthesis and secretion.[3]

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 suprarenal artery is provided by the inferior phrenic artery The middle suprarenal artery is provided by the abdominal aorta The inferior suprarenal artery is provided by the renal artery

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Venous drainage of the adrenal glands is achieved via the suprarenal veins: The right suprarenal vein drains into the inferior vena cava The left suprarenal vein drains into the left renal vein or the left inferior phrenic vein. The suprarenal veins may form anastomoses with the inferior phrenic veins. The adrenal glands and the thyroid gland are the organs that have the greatest blood supply per gram of tissue. Up to 60 arterioles may enter each adrenal gland.[5] This may be one of the reasons lung cancer commonly metastasizes to the adrenals.

Terminology
The adrenal glands are named for their location relative to the kidneys. The term "adrenal" comes from ad- (Latin, "near") and renes (Latin, "kidney"). Similarly, "suprarenal" is derived from supra(Latin, "above") and renes. Colloquially, they are referred to as "kidney hats".

See also
Geoffrey Bourne

References
1. ^ Page 18 in: Bou A, Nicolas A, Montagnon B (June 1971). "Reinfection with rubella in pregnant women". Lancet 1 (7712): 12513. PMID 4104713. 2. ^ Jefferies, William McK (2004). Safe uses of cortisol. Springfield, Ill: Charles C. Thomas. ISBN 0-39807500-X. 3. ^ a b c Whitehead, Saffron A.; Nussey, Stephen (2001). Endocrinology: an integrated approach. Oxford: BIOS. pp. 122. ISBN 1-85996-252-1. 4. ^ a b Sapru, Hreday N.; Siegel, Allan (2007). Essential Neuroscience. Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 0-7817-9121-9. 5. ^ Mirilas P, Skandalakis JE, Colborn GL, Weidman TA, Foster RS, Kingsnorth A, Skandalakis LJ, Skandalakis PN (2004). Surgical Anatomy: The Embryologic And Anatomic Basis Of Modern Surgery. McGraw-Hill Professional Publishing. ISBN 960-399-074-4.

External links
MedlinePlus Encyclopedia 002219 Virtual Slidebox at Univ. Iowa Slide 272 Anatomy Atlases - Microscopic Anatomy, plate 15.292 - "Adrenal Gland" Histology at BU 14501loa SUNY Labs 40:03-0105 - "Posterior Abdominal Wall: The Retroperitoneal Fat and Suprarenal Glands" Adrenal Gland, from Colorado State University Cross section at UV pembody/body8a Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrenal_gland" Categories: Glands | Abdomen | Endocrine system This page was last modified on 7 March 2011 at 02:15. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details.

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