Abstract
The adrenal glands are important endocrine organ that produces corticosteroids including glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids and androgens. These are important hormones that regulate sodium retention, blood pressure, fluid volume, the immune system, metabolism and behaviour. The adrenals also exert negative feedback mechanism in the hypothalamus and pituitary through the hormone cortisol. High levels of cortisol suppress the pituitary hormone ACTH whereas low cortisol stimulates ACTH secretion by increasing the release of hypothalamic hormones CRH and AVP. The adrenal medulla, which is located in the central part of the adrenal, forms part of the sympathetic nervous system and is referred as the sympatho-adrenomedullary system. It secrets epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline) and dopamine in response to stimulation by the sympathetic nervous system.
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Abbreviations
- ACTH:
-
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
- AGP:
-
Adrenogonadal primordium
- AngII:
-
Angiotensin II
- AR:
-
Androgen receptor
- AVP:
-
Arginine vasopressin
- CAH:
-
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
- CBG:
-
Corticosteroid-binding globulin
- CRH:
-
Corticotropin releasing hormone
- DHEA:
-
Dehydroepiandrosterone
- DHEAS:
-
Dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate
- DHT:
-
Dihydrotestosterone
- GC:
-
Glucocorticoid
- GR:
-
Glucocorticoid cell receptor
- HPA:
-
Hypothalamic pituitary axis
- PAPS:
-
3′-phosphoadenosine-5′-phophosulfate
- PCOS:
-
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
- SCN:
-
Hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus
- zF:
-
Zona fasciculata
- zG:
-
Zona glomerulosa
- zR:
-
Zona reticularis
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Key Reading
Stewart PM. The adrenal cortex, chapter 14. In: Kronemberg HM, Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, editors. Williams textbook of endocrinology. 11th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. p. 445–503.
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Yeoh, P. (2019). Anatomy and Physiology of the Adrenal Gland. In: Llahana, S., Follin, C., Yedinak, C., Grossman, A. (eds) Advanced Practice in Endocrinology Nursing. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-99817-6_34
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