The Adrenal Gland: Fight or FlightALEXA BRANCO, EMILY HAGOPIAN, ROB DIBENEDETTO, ALLY ARLUNA

Location, Location, Location

Position: On top of the kidneys

2 parts: Adrenal Medulla

Inner part of gland

Produces hormones such as adrenaline

Adrenal Cortex

Outer part of gland

Produces hormones such as coritsol

Hormones Cortisol

Steroid hormone

Produced in humans by the zona fasciculata

Released in response to stress and low blood glucose

The function is to increase blood sugar, to suppress the immune system, and to aid in the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrate

Decreases bone formation

Aldosterone Steroid hormone

Produced by the zona glomerulosa

Regulates blood pressure

Increases reabsorption of ions and water in the kidneys

Hormones (cont.) Adrenaline

Also known as Epinephrine

Produced in the medulla of the adrenal glands

Released into the bloodstream and serve as chemical mediators

Also convey the nerve impulses to various organs

Key action: increasing the heart rate, increasing blood pressure, expanding air passages of the lungs, etc.

Norepinephrine Has the role of a neurotransmitter and a hormone

Also referred as a stress hormone

The neurotransmitter released from the sympathetic neurons to affect the heart

Increase in heart rate, glucose release, and breathing rate

It also helps us think clearer by increasing the amount of oxygen going to our brain

Diseases related to the Adrenal Glands

With adrenal gland (or suprarenal) disorders, your glands make too much or not enough hormones.

Causes Genetic mutations

Tumors

Infections

A problem in another gland, such as the pituitary, which helps to regulate the adrenal gland

Adverse reaction to medication

Addison’s Disease

Hypo secretion of the adrenal cortices

results from damage to the adrenal cortex

this causes the cortex to produce hormone levels that are too low

insufficient production of cortisol and aldosterone

Causes and Symptoms of Addison’s Disease

destruction of the adrenal glands by infection

an autoimmune attack

an inherited mutation in the ACTH receptor on adrenal cells

Symptoms include weakness of the muscles and constant fatigue, loss of appetite leading to weight loss, nausea, vomiting and a fall in blood pressure

With hormone, or replacement therapy with glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, most people with Addison disease are able to lead a normal life

Cushing’s Disease -excessive production of

glucocorticoids

-cortisol levels are too high

-high hormone levels

-disfiguration of the body

Causes and Symptoms

-excessive production of ACTH by the anterior lobe of the pituitary

-excessive production by the adrenals themselves (e.g., because of a tumor)

-result of glucocorticoid therapy for some other disorder such as

-Rheumatoid arthritis or -preventing the rejection of an organ transplantCure

-Removal of tumor-Steroid drugs

Fun Facts

The adrenal gland is responsible for human’s fight or flight response.

The adrenal gland changes in size throughout a person’s life. Prior to birth, the glands are the size of the kidneys, but shrink once

the baby is born.

When a person reaches old age, the glands are so small they can hardly be seen.

Concept Check Questions

What are the two parts of the adrenal gland? What are the functions of each?

Adrenal Medulla- produces hormones such as adrenaline

Adrenal Cortex- produces hormones such as cortisol

What is another name for epinephrine and what action does this hormone perform?

Adrenaline- Increases heart rate, increases blood pressure, expands air passages of the lungs

Name two adrenal gland hormones. Give a similarity and a difference between the two.

Cortisol- produced in zona fasciculata

Aldosterone- produced in zona glomerulosa

Both are steroid hormones

Works Cited

"Aldosterone." You & Your Hormones. Society for Endocrinology, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015. <http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/aldosterone.aspx>.

Sargis, Robert M. "An Overview of the Adrenal Glands." Endocrine Web. Vertical Health, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015. <http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-adrenal-glands>.

Shmaefsky, Brian R. Applied Anatomy & Physiology. St. Paul: Paradigm, 2007. Print.