The Adrenal Glands

By: Jenny Desplat, Stephen Solinas, and Emila Danilowicz

Per. 1

Hormone control Growth Keeping blood normal Stress response Maintaining homeostasis Metabolism Sleep Mood Tissue function

Endocrine System

Adrenal Glands

Sits over the kidney

Location

Hormone release

Stress response Regulating the osmolality of blood

plasma

Functions

Stress response

Cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and norepinephrine

Regulating the osmolality of blood plasma Aldosterone

Hormones Released

Steroid Hormone

 Glucocorticoid Responds to stress Responds to low levels of

glucocorticoid in blood Immune system

suppressant Aids in Fat, Protein, and

Carbohydrate metabolism Synthetics can be used to

treat diseases

Cortisol

Hormone and

Neurotransmitter Regulating heart

rate, blood vessel and air passage diameters, and metabolic shifts

Triggers Fight-or-Flight response Central nervous

system response to stressful situations

Epinephrine (Adrenaline)

Neurotransmitte

r Increases heart

rate  Norepinephrine

also underlies the fight-or-flight response

Triggers release of glucose

Increases brain’s oxygen supply

Norepinephrine

Controls sodium secretion of potassium

Increases amounts of water held in blood

Raises blood pressure

Increase water absorption into kidney

Aldosterone

Hyperaldosteronism

Causes: problems with adrenal glands causes them to release too much aldosterone

Symptoms: fatigue, headache, muscle weakness, numbness, paralysis (that comes and goes)

Causes: chromaffin cells found in core of adrenal glands cause tumors

Symptoms: high blood pressure, sweating, abdominal pain, headaches, anxiety, pale skin, weight loss

Pheochromocytoma

Hyperaldosteronism

Pheochromocytoma

Each weigh 4 grams

Necessary for life

Made up of two regions Cortex Medulla

Interesting stuff

Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Apr. 2011.

<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/      pheochromocytoma/DS00569/DSECTION=symptoms>. 

Medline Plus. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 July 2011. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/      medlineplus/ency/article/000330.htm>. 

Encyclopedia.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Mar. 2013. <http://www.encyclopedia.com/      topic/adrenal_gland.aspx>. 

Bibliography

1) Which one is not a function of the Endocrine

System?a) Growth b) Keeping blood normalc) Protection d) Sleep

C

Concept Check Questions

2) Which hormone is not associated with the Adrenal Glands?

a) Prolactin b) Cortisolc) Epinephrine d) Aldosterone

A

3) Where are the adrenal glands located?

a) In the brain b) Above the kidneysc) In the pancreas d) In the Ovaries

B

Concept Check Questions

4) Explain what the hormone norepinephrine does.

Increases heart rate, underlies the fight-or-flight response, triggers release of glucose, increases brain’s oxygen supply.