The Adrenal Gland:
Fight or Flight
ALEXA BRANCO, EMILY HAGOPIAN, ROB DIBENEDETTO, ALLY ARLUNA
Location, Location, Location

Position: On top of the kidneys

2 parts:


Adrenal Medulla

Inner part of gland

Produces hormones such as adrenaline
Adrenal Cortex

Outer part of gland

Produces hormones such as coritsol
Hormones


Cortisol

Steroid hormone

Produced in humans by the zona fasciculata

Released in response to stress and low blood glucose

The function is to increase blood sugar, to suppress the immune system, and to aid in
the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrate

Decreases bone formation
Aldosterone

Steroid hormone

Produced by the zona glomerulosa

Regulates blood pressure

Increases reabsorption of ions and water in the kidneys
Hormones (cont.)


Adrenaline

Also known as Epinephrine

Produced in the medulla of the adrenal glands

Released into the bloodstream and serve as chemical mediators

Also convey the nerve impulses to various organs

Key action: increasing the heart rate, increasing blood pressure, expanding air
passages of the lungs, etc.
Norepinephrine

Has the role of a neurotransmitter and a hormone

Also referred as a stress hormone

The neurotransmitter released from the sympathetic neurons to affect the heart

Increase in heart rate, glucose release, and breathing rate

It also helps us think clearer by increasing the amount of oxygen going to our brain
Diseases related to the Adrenal
Glands

With adrenal gland (or suprarenal) disorders, your glands make too
much or not enough hormones.

Causes

Genetic mutations

Tumors

Infections

A problem in another gland, such as the pituitary, which helps to
regulate the adrenal gland

Adverse reaction to medication
Addison’s Disease

Hypo secretion of the adrenal cortices

results from damage to the adrenal cortex

this causes the cortex to produce hormone
levels that are too low

insufficient production of cortisol and
aldosterone
Causes and Symptoms of Addison’s
Disease

destruction of the adrenal glands by infection

an autoimmune attack

an inherited mutation in the ACTH receptor on adrenal cells

Symptoms include weakness of the muscles and constant fatigue,
loss of appetite leading to weight loss, nausea, vomiting and a fall in
blood pressure

With hormone, or replacement therapy with glucocorticoids and
mineralocorticoids, most people with Addison disease are able to
lead a normal life
Cushing’s Disease

-excessive production of
glucocorticoids

-cortisol levels are too high

-high hormone levels

-disfiguration of the body
Causes and
Symptoms
-excessive production of ACTH by the anterior lobe
of the pituitary
-excessive production by the adrenals themselves
(e.g., because of a tumor)
-result of glucocorticoid therapy for some other
disorder such as
-Rheumatoid arthritis or
-preventing the rejection of an organ transplant
Cure
-Removal of tumor
-Steroid drugs
Fun Facts

The adrenal gland is responsible for human’s fight or flight response.

The adrenal gland changes in size throughout a person’s life.

Prior to birth, the glands are the size of the kidneys, but shrink once the
baby is born.

When a person reaches old age, the glands are so small they can
hardly be seen.
Concept Check Questions
What are the two parts of the adrenal gland? What are the functions of
each?
Adrenal Medulla- produces hormones such as adrenaline
Adrenal Cortex- produces hormones such as cortisol
 What is another name for epinephrine and what action does this
hormone perform?
Adrenaline- Increases heart rate, increases blood pressure, expands air
passages of the lungs
 Name two adrenal gland hormones. Give a similarity and a difference
between the two.

Cortisol- produced in zona fasciculata
Aldosterone- produced in zona glomerulosa
Both are steroid hormones
Works Cited

"Aldosterone." You & Your Hormones. Society for Endocrinology, n.d.
Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.yourhormones.info/hormones/aldosterone.aspx>.

Sargis, Robert M. "An Overview of the Adrenal Glands." Endocrine
Web. Vertical Health, n.d. Web. 13 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.endocrineweb.com/endocrinology/overview-adrenalglands>.

Shmaefsky, Brian R. Applied Anatomy & Physiology. St. Paul:
Paradigm, 2007. Print.