PRESENTATION OUTLINE
Where is it located in the body?
the adrenal (also called "suprarenal") glands (small, conical organs on top of the kidneys).The adrenal glands are located just above each of the kidneys in the abdominal cavity. They are triangular in shape and approximately 1.5 inches in height and 3 inches in length. The adrenal glands consist of separate regions called the cortex and medulla, each of which performs different functions. The cortex is the outer layer and the medulla is the inner layer of the adrenal gland.
To which system does it primarily belong?
What fluids does it use? Describe them and their functions.
The adrenal medulla provides an important function in helping the body handle emotional and physical stress. It secretes the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine, also known as adrenaline and noradrenaline. These hormones contribute to the body’s "fight or flight" response by increasing blood pressure and blood flow, relaxing smooth muscles and increasing the body’s energy supply by stimulating the release of blood sugar, or glucose, from the liver.
What is its function?
Release of CRH from the hypothalamus is influenced by stress, physical activity, illness, by blood levels of cortisol and by the sleep/wake cycle (circadian rhythm). In healthy individuals, cortisol rises rapidly after wakening, reaching a peak within 30–45 minutes. It then gradually falls over the day, rising again in late afternoon. Cortisol levels then fall in late evening, reaching a trough during the middle of the night. An abnormally flattened circadian cortisol cycle has been linked with chronic fatigue syndrome,[2] insomnia[3] and burnout.[4]
What are the cells called that make it up?
The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA or HTPA axis), also known as the limbic–hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (LHPA axis) and, occasionally, as the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal–gonadotropic axis, is a complex set of direct influences and feedback interactions among three endocrine glands: the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland (a pea-shaped structure located below the hypothalamus)
What are some common diseases that affect this organ or the system to which it belongs?
Adrenal insufficiency
Addison's disease
Cushing's syndrome
