The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys and consist of an outer cortex and inner medulla. The cortex secretes mineralocorticoids like aldosterone to regulate sodium and water balance, glucocorticoids like cortisol to regulate metabolism and immune function, and androgens. The medulla secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine to trigger the fight-or-flight response. Diseases can result from overproduction or underproduction of these hormones, such as Cushing's syndrome from excessive cortisol or Addison's disease from adrenal insufficiency.

1. adrenal GLAND
Presentee :
SHUBHAM MANTRI
PHM- 35

2. INTRODUCTION
 The adrenal glands develop from two
separate embryological tissues;
the neural crest ectoderm and
the intermediate mesoderm.
 The medulla originates from neural crest
cells. The adrenal cortex develops from
the intermediate mesoderm.
 The fetal cortex develops in the centre,
with the permanent cortex surrounding it.
 By 4 months of age the adrenal gland is
fully developed

3. Position and location
 The adrenal glands located on the upper poles of
each kidney on the right and left sides
 They are covered by peritoneum on the posterior
abdominal wall they are embedded into pre renal
fat
 The left one is larger and higher than the right
 Adrenal gland measures :-
 Width 3 cm
 Length 5 cm
 Thickness 1 cm
 Weight 7-10 gm
 Colour –yellowish

4. ANATOMY OF ADRENAL
GLANDS
The adrenal glands are paired bodies lying
cranial to the kidneys within the
retroperitoneal space. The glands consist
of two layers;
I. cortex
II. medulla.

5. ADRENAL CORTEX
The adrenal cortex is red to light brown
in colour and is composed of three
zones. From the outer to inner, the
layers are;
1. zonaglomerulosa- is narrow and the
cells are in a whorled pattern.
2. zonafasciculata- wide and the cells lie
in columns and
3. zonareticularis- more randomly
organised.
The adrenal cortex represents 80-90%
of the adrenal gland.
The adrenal medulla represents only
10-20% of the adrenal gland.

8. HORMONES OF THE
ADRENAL CORTEX
 The adrenocortical hormones and their functions in
the body are classified into:
1. Mineralocorticoids
2. Glucocorticoids
3. Adrenal androgens

9. 1. MINERALOCORTICOIDS
 These hormones help to control the water and electrolyte
homeostasis, particularly the concentration of Na+ and K+ ions.
Mineralocorticoids include the following hormones:
• They are produced in the zona glomerulosa.
• The primary mineralocorticoid is aldosterone. Its secretion is
regulated by the oligopeptide angiotensin II (angiotensin II is
regulated by angiotensin I, which in turn is regulated by renin).
• Aldosterone is secreted in response to high extracellular potassium
levels, low extracellular sodium levels, and low fluid levels and blood
volume.
• Aldosterone affects metabolism in different ways:
It increases urinary excretion of potassium ions.
It increases interstitial levels of sodium ions.
It increases water retention and blood volume.

10. 2. GLUCOCORTICOIDS
• They are produced in the zona fasciculata.
• The primary glucocorticoid released by the adrenal gland in the
human is cortisol and corticosterone in many other animals.
• Its secretion is regulated by the hormone ACTH from the
anterior pituitary.
• Upon binding to its target, cortisol enhances metabolism in
several ways:
 It stimulates the release of amino acids from the body
 It stimulates lipolysis, the breakdown of fat
 It stimulates gluconeogenesis, the production of glucose
from newly-released amino acids and lipids
 It increases blood glucose levels in response to stress, by
inhibiting glucose uptake into muscle and fat cells
 It strengthens cardiac muscle contractions
 It increases water retention
 It has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects

11. 3. ANDROGEN
 Androgen, also called androgenic hormones or
testoids, is the generic term for any natural or synthetic
compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or
controls the development and maintenance of male
characteristics in vertebrates by binding to androgen
receptors.
 This includes the activity of the accessory male sex
organs and development of male secondary sex
characteristics.
 Androgens were first discovered in 1936.
 Androgens are also the original anaboli steroids and the
precursor of all estrogens, the female sex hormones.
 The primary and most well-known androgen is
testosterone.
 Androgen ablation can be used as an effective therapy
in prostate cancer.

12. Adrenal medulla
• The adrenal medulla is part of the
adrenal gland.
• It is located at the center of the gland,
being surrounded by the adrenal
cortex.
• It is the inner most part of the adrenal
gland, consisting of cells that secrete
epinephrine, norepinephrine, and a
small amount of dopamine in
response to stimulation by
sympathetic preganglionic neurons.

13.  Function
• Rather than releasing a neurotransmitter, the cells
of the adrenal medulla secrete hormones.
• Composed mainly of hormone-producing
chromaffin cells, the adrenal medulla is the
principal site of the conversion of the amino acid
tyrosine into the catecholamines adrenaline
(epinephrine), noradrenaline (norepinephrine), and
dopamine.
• Notable effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline
include increased heart rate and blood pressure,
blood vessel constriction in the skin and
gastrointestinal tract, blood vessel dilation in
skeletal muscles, bronchiole dilation, and
decreased metabolism, all of which are
characteristic of the fight-or-flight response.
Release of catecholamines is stimulated by nerve
impulses, and receptors for catecholamines are
widely distributed throughout the body.

14. Epinephrine (Also called
adrenaline)
 Epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) is a
hormone and neurotransmitter.
 It increases heart rate, contracts blood vessels,
dilates air passages and participates in the fight-or-
flight response of the sympathetic nervous
system.Chemically, epinephrine is a
catecholamine, a monoamine produced only by the
adrenal glands from the amino acids phenylalanine
and tyrosine.
 The term adrenaline is derived from the Latin roots
ad- and renes and literally means on the kidney, in
reference to the adrenal gland's anatomic location
on the kidney.

15. Norepinephrine (Also called
noradrenaline.)
• Norepinephrine (INN) (abbreviated norepi or NE) or
noradrenaline (BAN) (abbreviated NA or NAd) is a
catecholamine with multiple roles including as a
hormone and a neurotransmitter.
• As a stress hormone, norepinephrine affects parts of the
brain where attention and responding actions are
controlled.
• Along with epinephrine, norepinephrine also underlies
the fight-or-flight response, directly increasing heart rate,
triggering the release of glucose from energy stores, and
increasing blood flow to skeletal muscle.
• Norepinephrine can also suppress neuroinflammation
when released diffusely in the brain from the locus
ceruleus.

16.  FUNCTIONS:
 Function of adrenal medulla:
• Rather than releasing a neurotransmitter, the cells of the
adrenal medulla secrete hormones.
• Notable effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline include
increased heart rate and blood pressure, blood vessel
constriction in the skin and gastrointestinal tract, blood
vessel dilation in skeletal muscles all of which are
characteristic of the fight-or-flight response. Release of
catecholamines is stimulated by nerve impulses, and
receptors for catecholamines are widely distributed
throughout the body.
 Functions of adrenal cortex:
• It stimulates the release of amino acids from the body.
• It stimulates lipolysis, the breakdown of fat.
• It increases urinary excretion of potassium ions.
• It increases interstitial levels of sodium ions.
• It increases water retention and blood volume.
• Testes formation
• Spermatogenesis

18. DISEASES OF THE
ADRENAL GLAND:
Cushing’s syndrome
In Cushing's syndrome, the level of corticosteroids
is excessive, usually from overproduction by the
adrenal glands.

19. Addison’s syndrome
 In Addison's disease, the adrenal glands are underactive,
resulting in a deficiency of adrenal hormones.

20. THANK YOU