Endocrinology - Adrenal Disorders
1. What is the function of the adrenal cortex?: - endocrine functions related to steroid hormone
production
2. What is the function of the adrenal medulla?: - endocrine functions related to catecholamine
secretion
3. What is the function of the zona glomerulosa?: - secretes mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)
- 15% of whole adrenal cortex
4. What is the function of the zona fasciculata?: - secretes glucocorticoids (cortisol)
- 75% of whole adrenal cortex
5. WHat is the function of the zona reticularis?: - secretes androgens (dehydroepiadnrosterone
and androstenedione)
6. What type of steroids are adrenocortical hormones and what are they derived
from?: - steroid hormones; derived from cholesterol
,7. How are adrenocortical hormones transported?: - bound to plasma proteins and are inactive
until they are unbound
8. What can hypoproteinemia cause?: - diflculty transporting adrenocortical hormones
9. Where are adrenocortical hormones metabolized?: - in the liver
10. What is the only zone in the adrenal gland that secretes significant amounts
of aldosterone and why?: - zona glomerulosa, due to the presence of the enzyme aldosterone synthase,
which is essential for aldosterone synthesis
11. Does cortisol/cortisone have mineralocorticoid activity?: YES, it has slight MR activity
and this increases in higher doses
12. Do mineralocorticoids have glucocorticoid activity?: - NO
13. Is aldosterone related to cortisol and androgen regulation?: - NO
14. How does potassium and angiotensin II affect aldosterone secretion?: IN-
CREASED potassium = INCREASED aldosterone secretion
, INCREASED Angiotensin II = INCREASED aldosterone secretion
15. How does sodium and ANP affect aldosterone secretion?: INCREASED sodium =
DECREASED aldosterone secretion
INCREASED ANP = DECREASED aldosterone secretion
16. When is ANP secreted?: - secreted by the heart when atrial cells are stretched
1. What is the function of the adrenal cortex?: - endocrine functions related to steroid hormone
production
2. What is the function of the adrenal medulla?: - endocrine functions related to catecholamine
secretion
3. What is the function of the zona glomerulosa?: - secretes mineralocorticoids (aldosterone)
- 15% of whole adrenal cortex
4. What is the function of the zona fasciculata?: - secretes glucocorticoids (cortisol)
- 75% of whole adrenal cortex
5. WHat is the function of the zona reticularis?: - secretes androgens (dehydroepiadnrosterone
and androstenedione)
6. What type of steroids are adrenocortical hormones and what are they derived
from?: - steroid hormones; derived from cholesterol
,7. How are adrenocortical hormones transported?: - bound to plasma proteins and are inactive
until they are unbound
8. What can hypoproteinemia cause?: - diflculty transporting adrenocortical hormones
9. Where are adrenocortical hormones metabolized?: - in the liver
10. What is the only zone in the adrenal gland that secretes significant amounts
of aldosterone and why?: - zona glomerulosa, due to the presence of the enzyme aldosterone synthase,
which is essential for aldosterone synthesis
11. Does cortisol/cortisone have mineralocorticoid activity?: YES, it has slight MR activity
and this increases in higher doses
12. Do mineralocorticoids have glucocorticoid activity?: - NO
13. Is aldosterone related to cortisol and androgen regulation?: - NO
14. How does potassium and angiotensin II affect aldosterone secretion?: IN-
CREASED potassium = INCREASED aldosterone secretion
, INCREASED Angiotensin II = INCREASED aldosterone secretion
15. How does sodium and ANP affect aldosterone secretion?: INCREASED sodium =
DECREASED aldosterone secretion
INCREASED ANP = DECREASED aldosterone secretion
16. When is ANP secreted?: - secreted by the heart when atrial cells are stretched
