Adrenal Glands (cortex & medulla)

Aksel Taylan, Josiah Snowden, Brandon Ellsworth, Kassie Wolf and Avery Palermo

7th

1/12/2015

Location

• The Adrenal Glands are located on the top of the kidneys.

Hormones, Effect, and Importance

• Produced by the Adrenal Medulla (inside of the gland):• Epinephrine (adrenaline): increases the heart rate and force of heart

contractions to help blood flow to the brain and muscles. • Also helps with the conversion of glycogen to glucose in the liver. • Fight or flight response

• Norepinephrine: leads to the squeezing of blood vessels therefore maintaining blood pressure in response to stressful situations.

• Produced by the Adrenal Cortex(outside): • Cortisol: hormone that controls fats, proteins, and carbs. Also helps immune

system by suppressing inflammatory reactions• Aldosterone: regulates sodium and potassium and therefore helps maintain

blood pressure and blood volume.• Androgenic Steroids: converts to female and male hormones (estrogens and

androgens)

More Info

• Cortex• Feedback from hypothalamus and adrenocorticotropic

hormone cause release of hormones• Insulin counteracts cortisol• Spironolactone counteracts aldosterone• cyproterone acetate counteracts androgenic steroids

• Medulla• Feedback from nerve impulses form the hypothalamus

causes release of hormones• Norepinephrine & epinephrine counteracted by acetylcholine

Not functioning

• Hypersecretion of hormones form the medulla can lead to prolonged sympathetic responses• Hyposecretion usually has no significant effects however

• Cortex not functioning properly can lead to • Cushing's syndrome (excess Cortisol)• Feminization• Precocious puberty• Conn's syndrome (excess aldosterone)

How to fix

• Prescription hormone replacements if low functioning• Radiation or other medications if over

functioning• Surgery to remove tumor on gland

Educational Video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WJj8IE83oM&feature=player_embedded

Resources

• http://www.tutorvista.com/content/biology/biology-iv/chemical-coordination-animals/adrenal-glands.php

• http://www.healthline.com/health/adrenal-glands#Treatment6• http://

www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/adrenal-cancer/diseases-adrenal-cortex-adrenal-cancer

• http://training.seer.cancer.gov/anatomy/endocrine/glands/adrenal.html• http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/A/Adrenals.html • http://

education-portal.com/academy/lesson/adrenal-gland-disorders-treatments-addisons-disease-and-prednisone.html#lesson

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WJj8IE83oM&feature=player_embedded