Privacy Policy. Skip to main content. Endocrine System. Search for:. The Adrenal Suprarenal Glands. Overview of the Adrenal Glands In mammals, the adrenal glands also known as the suprarenal glands are endocrine glands that sit atop the kidneys.
Learning Objectives Describe the location and function of the adrenal glands. Key Takeaways Key Points The adrenal glands are are endocrine glands located atop the kidneys.
They are responsible for releasing three classes of hormones; mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens along with catecholamines. Each adrenal gland is composed to two structures: the adrenal medulla and adrenal cortex. Key Terms adrenal cortex : The outer portion of the adrenal glands that produces mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and androgens. Adrenal medulla : The innermost part of the adrenal gland, consisting of cells that secrete adrenaline and noradrenaline.
Adrenal Cortex The adrenal cortex is devoted to the synthesis of corticosteroid and androgen hormones. Learning Objectives Differentiate among the zones and hormones of the adrenal cortex. Key Takeaways Key Points Specific cortical cells produce particular hormones, including aldosterone, cortisol, and androgens such as androstenedione.
The adrenal cortex comprises three zones, or layers: Zona glomerulosa outer , Zona fasciculata and Zona reticularis. The outermost layer, the zona glomerulosa, is the main site for production of mineralocorticoids, mainly aldosterone. This layer is responsible for producing glucocorticoids, such as cortisol.
Zona reticularis is the inner most cortical layer; the zona reticularis produces androgens, mainly DHEA. Key Terms adrenal cortex : The outer portion of the adrenal glands that produces hormones essential to homeostasis.
Adrenal Medulla The adrenal cortex is devoted to the synthesis of corticosteroid and androgen hormones. Learning Objectives Describe the adrenal medulla. Although adrenal insufficiency usually develops over time, it can also appear suddenly as an acute adrenal failure adrenal crisis. It has similar symptoms, but the consequences are more serious, including life-threatening shock, seizures, and coma.
These may develop if the condition is left untreated. Adrenal insufficiency can also result from a genetic disorder called congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Children who are born with this disorder are missing an essential enzyme necessary to produce cortisol, aldosterone or both.
At the same time, they often experience excess of androgen, which may lead to male characteristics in girls and precocious puberty in boys. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia can remain undiagnosed for years depending on the severity of the enzyme deficiency. In more severe cases, infants may suffer from ambiguous genitalia, dehydration, vomiting and failure to thrive.
Sometimes, adrenal glands may develop nodules that produce too much of certain hormones. Nodules 4 centimeters or larger and nodules that show certain features on imaging increase suspicion for malignancy. Both benign and cancerous nodules may produce excessive amounts of certain hormones, which is referred to as a functional nodule. Functional tumors, malignant tumors or nodules greater than 4 centimeters are recommended to be referred for surgical evaluation.
Cushing syndrome results from excessive production of cortisol from the adrenal glands. The symptoms may include weight gain and fatty deposits in certain areas of the body, such as the face, below the back of the neck called a buffalo hump and in the abdomen; thinning arms and legs; purple stretch marks on the abdomen; facial hair; fatigue; muscle weakness; easily bruised skin; high blood pressure; diabetes; and other health issues.
Excess cortisol production can also be triggered by overproduction of ACTH by a benign tumor in the pituitary gland or tumor elsewhere in the body.
This is known as Cushing Disease. Another common cause of Cushing syndrome is excessive and prolonged consumption of external steroids, such as prednisone or dexamethasone, which are prescribed to treat many autoimmune or inflammatory diseases e. Hyperaldosteronism results from overproduction of aldosterone from one or both adrenal glands. This is characterized by increase in blood pressure that often requires many medications to control. Some people can develop low potassium levels in the blood, which can cause muscle aches, weakness and spasms.
When the cause is adrenal oversecretion, the disease is called Conn syndrome. Pheochromocytoma is a tumor that results in excess production of adrenaline or noradrenaline by the adrenal medulla that often happens in bursts. Occasionally, neural crest tissue, which has similar tissue to the adrenal medulla, may be the cause of overproduction of these hormones.
This known as a paraganglioma. Pheochromocytomas may cause persistent or sporadic high blood pressure that may be difficult to control with regular medications. Other symptoms include headaches, sweating, tremors, anxiety and rapid heartbeat. Let us know your question s and we will forward it to Dr. Carling, or to our office, and get back to you as soon as we can. Corona Virus Update: Friday November 12, We have been very busy performing adrenalectomies all year long and our protocols for safe care of our patients have been tremendously effective.
All of our doctors and nurses and hospital staff have been vaccinated. We are accepting new patients as usual and are consulting on new patients daily. We are now able to offer the rapid same day results within minutes CV test so there is no longer a need to arrive in Tampa several days before your operation. Also, vaccinated patients do not need to be tested for Covid For our international patients, many are now coming because of the medical indications, and we test you for the virus before we operate.
Our hotels are ready for you and VERY clean. As most of you have heard, the cases in Tampa and Florida are rapidly decreasing, and among the lowest in the country.
NEW PATIENTS: It typically takes a few days for new patients to get into our system, receive their records, and have a consultation, and then be scheduled for surgery--so this process for new patients continues.
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