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4 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Adrenal glands shaped like two pyramids curve over the top of each kidney surrounded in fat enclosing the kidney. located close to the body wall of the back at the level of the lower ribs |
closer view of adrenal glands |
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Adrenal glands is composed of glandular tissue forming adrenal cortex outer cortex, and nervous tissue forming the inner medula. Surrounding the gland is a thick protective capsule that binds the gland to the kidney surface |
functions Adrenal glands receives a large blood supply from supra-renal arteries that branch off the abdominal aorta and renal arteries and drained by the supra renal veins which then flow into the inferior vena cava |
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The adrenal cortex contains three separate layers of cells that produce steroid hormones called the corticosteroids |
outer layer of cells - produce mineralocorticoids (primary aldosterone) middle layer of cells - produce glucocorticoids) primary hydrocortisone inner layer of cells - produce small quantities of male sex hormones androgens that may be converted to estrogens in the bloodstream |
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The adrenal medulla is composed of modified nerve cells called Chromaffin cells surrounded by numerous capillaries. |
Function The chromaffin cells are stimulated by sympathetic nervous system neurons to release catecholamine hormones into the bloodstream Adrenalin (epinephrine) Noradrenalin (norepinephrine) These hormones are only released when stress triggers the hypothalamus and sympathetic nervous tissue into action |
