Virilism
By Tori Boyle and Ian
Woodbine
Virilism

Virilism is the development of male secondary sex
characteristics caused by male sex hormones,
called androgens, excessively produced by the
adrenal gland. This disorder can occurs mostly in
women later on in life due to an excessive
production of testosterone.
Glands Affected

The adrenal glands are the glands
affected when one has the disorder of
virilism. The adrenal glands are two
small structures that lie on top of the
kidneys. The adrenal glands produce
many hormones that regulate body
functions including androgens, or male
hormones such as testosterone.
Androgens are produced in normal
girls and women, but are not as heavily
produced as in a male’s body. When
the adrenal glands become large or
overactive, excessive androgens are
produced, creating masculine
characteristics in women.
Hormones




Androgens- usually a steroid hormone, that
stimulates or controls the development and
maintenance of male characteristics in vertebrae's.
Aldosterone — A hormone secreted by the adrenal
glands that is important for maintaining salt and
water balance in the body.
Cortisol- A steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal
cortex that is important for maintenance of body
fluids, electrolytes, and blood sugar levels.
An imbalance of androgen hormones, caused by
the enlargement of the adrenal glands, produces
excessive amounts of testosterone in females. The
enlargement of adrenal glands is called congenital
adrenal hyperplasia and is usually developed at birth
or in the womb.
Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
and Virilization

This is a genetic disorder characterized by a deficiency in the
hormones cortisol and aldosterone and an over-production of
the hormone androgen. This is caused by an enzyme
deficiency. Because cortisol production is impeded, the
adrenal gland instead overproduces androgens (male steroid
hormones). The over-production of androgen causes an over
production of the male hormone called testosterone.
Testosterone is a steroid hormone.
Females and Virilism
 Women
with adrenal virilization may
develop facial hair. Their menstrual cycles
are infrequent or absent. They may also
develop a deeper voice, a more
prominent Adam's apple, and other
masculine signs.
Treatment


There is no cure for virilism, meaning that once the
disorder takes place in the adrenal glands, the glands
cannot return the body to normal homeostasis levels.
Some girls get surgery to remove the male body parts or
are treated with daily doses of a glucocorticoid.
Glucocorticoid — A hormone produced by the adrenal
gland; this hormone leads to an increase in blood sugar
and creation of sugar molecules by the liver.
Diagrams and Pictures
Diagrams and Pictures
Work Cited


http://www.google.com/imgres?q=virilism+images&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&sa=N&tbm=i
sch&tbnid=2u2yJRWosAnMaM:&imgrefurl=http://60med.ru/Zdorove/Budemzdorovyi/Gipertrihoz.html&docid=bzrre2GXNB7QyM&imgurl=http://60med.ru/images/stories/
%2525D0%2525B7%2525D0%2525B4%2525D0%2525BE%2525D1%252580%2525D0%2525BE%252
5D0%2525B2%2525D1%25258C%2525D0%2525B5/virilism.jpg&w=300&h=361&ei=WNxxT6beNM
SU0gGmgOXLAQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=118&vpy=73&dur=188&hovh=246&hovw=205&tx=
95&ty=127&sig=115200934430124775217&page=2&tbnh=131&tbnw=109&start=21&ndsp=26
&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:21&biw=1280&bih=611
http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/adrenal+virilism

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=adrenal+gland&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&tbm=isch&t
bnid=YGn0-QupN8GpM:&imgrefurl=http://www.tuberose.com/Adrenal_Glands.html&docid=w_9HpGgMmy92eM
&imgurl=http://www.tuberose.com/Graphics/adrenal.jpg&w=348&h=300&ei=iuFxT7roCaHg0
QGJ_dW0AQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=489&vpy=278&dur=656&hovh=208&hovw=242&tx=11
3&ty=157&sig=115200934430124775217&page=1&tbnh=130&tbnw=157&start=0&ndsp=18&v
ed=1t:429,r:8,s:0&biw=1280&bih=611

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=virilism&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&tbm=isch&tbnid=Fljsf
WJ3pOs9uM:&imgrefurl=http://www.pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/dnn_bilm/Endocrinology/Sex
hormonesfertility/FemaleVirilism.aspx&docid=mE4WMOMaTIjhM&imgurl=http://www.pathology.leedsth.nhs.uk/dnn_bilm/Portals/0/fviril3.gif&w=600&h=489&ei=TUp0T7ipAafj0QHGx9WAAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=545&vpy=15
8&dur=2485&hovh=203&hovw=249&tx=151&ty=86&sig=104250390964695140691&page=1&t
bnh=164&tbnw=201&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&biw=1440&bih=719
Work Cited


http://www.google.com/imgres?q=virilism&um=1&hl=en&safe=active&tbm=isch&tbnid=nocc3TgA3zWaM:&imgrefurl=http://www.netterimages.com/image/3577.htm&docid=1BmfvKZeY6OPWM
&imgurl=http://www.netterimages.com/images/vpv/000/000/003/35770550x0475.jpg&w=475&h=550&ei=TUp0T7ipAafj0QHGx9WAAw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=786&vpy=318&
dur=1125&hovh=242&hovw=209&tx=122&ty=128&sig=104250390964695140691&page=1&tbnh=172&tb
nw=149&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0&biw=1440&bih=719
http://trialx.com/curetalk/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2011/05/diseases/Adrenal_Virilism-3.jpg