describe the primary function of the adrenal glands

Catecholamine synthesis in the medulla is a constant process that replenishes catecholamine stores, as there is a constant rate of secretion.Steroid receptors are mainly nuclear transcription factors that regulate gene transcription, and can either increase or decrease protein synthesis.Aldosterone release occurs in response to hypovolemia, sodium depletion, hyperkalemia, and is stimulated by:.Glucocorticoid feedback to the pituitary and hypothalamus downregulates ACTH secretion.pain, distress, hypotension, inflammatory cytokines) Pituitary ACTH is released in a circadian pulse, and also in response to stress of different forms (eg.It occurs primarily in response to pituitary ACTH release, modulated by:.

Cortisol release is approximately 30mg/day, with a maximum of around 300mg/day.Steroid synthesis in the cortex is from stored cholesterol vesicles, and occurs on demand, on the time scale of minutes.(80% adrenaline, 20% noradrenaline), composed of chromaffin cells Medulla, a modified sympathetic ganglion that secretes catecholamines.Zona reticularis, which secretes mainly androgens.Zona fasciculata, which secretes mainly cortisol.Zona glomerulosa, which secretes mainly aldosterone.They are divided into four functionally and anatomically distinct regions:.Adrenal glands are small (5-6g) well-perfused glands that lay on the anterior superior border of each kidney.

Plus it was probably worthwhile to bring all the material together in one spot.

how they synthesise, store and secrete their hormones) and most of the regulatory influences on their function are not really discussed anywhere else. What's left for this page, then? The remaining aspects left uncovered are the functional anatomy of the adrenal glands, their physiological behaviour (i.e. The chapter on the humoral regulation of blood volume and flow covers much of the content concerning the regulation and end-organ effects of adrenal hormones like aldosterone and the catecholamines. Catecholamine receptors and their many clinical effects are discussed in the pages dealing with the autonomic nervous system, and the steroids and catecholamines themselves are important enough to have whole monographs dedicated to them alone. For example, the chapter on the endocrine functions of the kidney coveres all things related to the functions of renal hormones, as that is a whole separate syllabus item (Section H1(iv), 'outline the endocrine functions of the kidney'). Without trying to be lazy, and only out of mild interest in the SEO-destroying effects of duplicate content, the author needs to point out that much of this material has had to be scattered across Deranged Physiology because it would have been more logical to have it positioned there. This chapter is related to Section U1(vi) from the 2017 CICM Primary Syllabus, which asks the exam candidate to 'describe the control, secretions and functions of renal and adrenal hormones'.

Describe the primary function of the adrenal glands