Human Physiology II- 1st year 2nd semester

Endocrine Physiology _ Lecture 4

The Adrenal Gland

RS Maddumage
B Sc (Hons) in MLS
Learning outcomes

At the end of this lecture students should be able to,

•Outline the structure of the adrenal gland in relation to its

function.

•Outline the adrenal hormones and their functions.

•Outline the role of the adrenal gland in the water balance of

the body.

•Outline how stress is regulated by the adrenal hormone.

 Adrenal Glands

• Adrenal glands – paired, pyramid-shaped organs lie at

the superior poles of the two kidneys.
Adrenal gland
• Composed of two distinct parts,
• Adrenal cortex (80-90%)
Secrete corticosteroids

• Adrenal medulla (10-20%)-

• Secrete epinephrine and
norepinephrine in response to
sympathetic stimulation
Adrenal Cortex
Adrenals
CORTEX
Zona Glomerulosa
Mineralocorticoids
(Aldosterone)
Na+, K+ and water homeostasis
Zona Fasciculata
Glucocorticoids (Cortisol)
Glucose homeostasis and many
others
Zona Reticularis
Sex steroids (androgens)

Medulla: “Catecholamines”
Epinephrine, Norepinephrine, dopamine
MINERALOCORTICOID
S – ALDOSTERONE
Functions of Aldosterone
• Increases renal tubular,
• reabsorption of sodium and water.
• secretion of potassium.

• Increase the reabsorption of NaCl and secretion

of K+ and HCO3- from the sweat glands, and
salivary glands.

• Enhances the sodium absorption by the

intestines; colon
 Mineralocorticoids- Regulation of aldosterone
secretion

• The following factors are known to play a role in the

regulation of aldosterone.
Increases aldosterone secretion Decreases aldosterone
secretion.
• Increased K+ concentration in • Increased Na+
the ECF. concentration in the ECF.

• Increased angiotensin II • Increased atrial natriuretic

concentration in the ECF. peptide (ANP)

• ACTH from the anterior

pituitary gland followed by
hypothalamic CRH
Mechanisms
of Aldosterone
Regulation
 Aldosterone: Role in diseases
Aldosterone Deficiency causes,

•Hyperkalemia and cardiac toxicity.

- Increased serum potassium concentration
- Weakness of heart contraction
- Development of arrhythmia
- Heart failure

•Hyponatremia
 Aldosterone: Role in diseases
When aldosterone secretion becomes zero,
•Potassium ion con. In the ECF rises markedly.
• Large amounts of sodium are lost in the urine.
•Total extracellular fluid volume and blood volume
become greatly reduced.
•The person soon develops diminished cardiac
output that leads to circulatory shock followed by
death.
•This can be prevented by administration of
aldosterone or some other mineral corticoids.
 Aldosterone: Role in diseases
Excess Aldosterone,

• Increases ECF Volume and Arterial Pressure. But

has only a small effect on plasma sodium
concentration.

• Causes Hypokalemia and Muscle Weakness.

• Excess Aldosterone Increases Tubular Hydrogen

Ion Secretion and Causes Alkalosis.
Glucocorticoids;
Cortisol
Cortisol

• Glucocorticoids.

• Zona Faciculata

• Also known as hydrocortisone.

• Required for normal development:

- Maturation of many organs.
- Synthesis of digestive enzymes, surfactant.
- Skeletal growth in children
 Functions of Cortisol
1.Effect on glucose metabolism: Promote gluconeogenesis.

2.Effects on lipid metabolism: Increase lipolysis in adipose tissue

and reduce the synthesis of TG. Promotes mobilization of fatty
acids from adipose tissue. (to liver) &increased the fatty acid
oxidation.

3.Effects on Protein:
Decreased protein synthesis and increased protein catabolism in all
tissues except the liver.
liver proteins & and plasma proteins are increased.
Promote amino acid mobilization from muscles. (to liver)
4. Effects on the immune system: Cortisol suppresses the
immune response directly and indirectly by affecting most
cells that participate in immune reactions and inflammatory
reactions.
•Powerful anti-inflammatory effect.
•Can block the early stages of the inflammation before it
begins.
•Increased rapid resolution and healing.

•Blocks the inflammatory responses to allergic reactions.

(prevent the shock and death in anaphylaxis.)
Cortisol is important in resisting
stress
• Any type of stress, whether physical or neurogenic,
causes an immediate and marked increase in ACTH
secretion by the anterior pituitary gland, followed
within minutes by greatly increased cortisol.

Different types of stress that increase cortisol release:

Trauma, Infection, Intense heat or cold, Injection of
norepinephrine, and Debilitating diseases(RA, MD,
COPD..)
Control of Cortisol Secretion: Feedback Loops
 Cushing's syndrome
• An endocrine disorder caused by high levels of cortisol
(hypercortisolism) in the blood.

• This can be caused by

1. Adenomas of the anterior pituitary that secrete large
amounts of ACTH
2. “ectopic secretion” of ACTH by a tumor elsewhere
in the body, such as an abdominal carcinoma.
3. Abnormal function of the hypothalamus that causes
high levels of CRH.
4. Adenomas of the adrenal cortex.
Special characteristic of Cushing’s syndrome
Treatment of People With Cushing’s Syndrome

• Removing an adrenal tumor.

• Surgically removal or radiation destruction of the

Hypertrophied pituitary glands /tumors in the pituitary
that oversecrete ACTH.

• Drugs that block steroidogenesis/ inhibit ACTH secretion.

• Adrenalectomy
 Addison disease

• Results from an inability of the adrenal cortex to

produce sufficient adrenocortical hormones.

Causes
primary atrophy of the adrenal cortex
• Autoimmunity.
• Tuberculous destruction of the adrenal gland.
• Invasion of the adrenal cortices by cancer.

Impaired function of the pituitary gland, which fails to

produce sufficient ACTH.
Treatment of People With Addison's Disease.

• An untreated person with total adrenal destruction dies

within a few days to a few weeks because of weakness
and, usually, circulatory shock.

• Yet, such a person can live for years if small quantities of

mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids are administered
daily
Adrenal Medulla:
A Modified Sympathetic Ganglion
Adrenal Medulla:
A Modified Sympathetic Ganglion

• Sympathetic stimulation
• Catecholamine release to blood
• Epinephrine
• Norepinephrine
• Travel to:
• Multiple targets
• Distant targets
Summary
Thank you