The human body represents a very complicated construct in which many components interact, and these components include all organs, each of which performs a specific function. In this regard, there are some organs, the failure of which would cause the entire mechanism to completely break down and ultimately lead to death. Among these vital organs is the adrenal gland.
What is an adrenal gland?
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy and structure of the adrenal gland. Click to enlarge. The Latin names of the adrenal gland are glandula suprarenalis and glandula adrenalis, respectively. This organ is a paired hormonal gland, which in humans is located above the upper poles of the kidneys. The adrenal gland is subordinate to the autonomic nervous system and the hormonal control cycle. It consists of two organs, which are functionally different. While the adrenal medulla, as one of the two, belongs to the sympathetic nervous system and includes the production of adrenaline and noradrenaline as its main functions, the adrenal cortex is involved in sugar, water and mineral balance and steroid hormone production.
Anatomy and structure
These two functionally distinct organs are located in separated subregions of the adrenal gland. Anatomically, it consists of an outer and an inner part. The inner part is given the name adrenal medulla, while the outer part is called the adrenal cortex. The adrenal medulla is made up of a string of nerve cells and thus basically belongs to the nervous system. The adrenal cortex, on the other hand, consists of 3 distinct layers, which, however, can only be clearly distinguished from each other upon closer inspection under a microscope.
Functions and tasks
The two are not only different in structure, but each also has different functions. The adrenal cortex is mainly used for hormone production. Among the many hormones produced are sex hormones and the hormones aldosterone and cortisol. Aldosterone belongs to the mineral corticoids and controls the body’s salt balance, the salt types involved being potassium and sodium. It also influences blood pressure by increasing the retention of sodium in the kidney region of the body and simultaneously increasing the retention of water. In contrast, the main task of cortisol is to provide sugar as an energy carrier. It carries out this process by stimulating gluconeogenesis. These endogenous stores are thereby induced to produce sugar. Further sugar is produced by fat breakdown and the breakdown of the body’s own sugar stores. In both cases, energy is obtained. In addition, cortisone has other functions such as increasing the effect of stress hormones such as adrenaline and inhibiting inflammation by dampening the entire immune system. In addition, sex hormones are also produced in the adrenal cortex. In the adrenal medulla there is a production of transmitters, which are also called messenger substances. The hormones produced here belong to the biogenic amines and are released into the bloodstream by the adrenal medulla. The adrenal medulla further produces the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are released when the body is in an alarm situation.
Diseases
Since many different hormones are produced in the adrenal gland, disorders of a wide variety can also occur in this process. The diseases are related either to an underfunction or an overfunction of the organ. The most significant of these are tumors, since these can lead to hyperfunction of the kidney and, in extreme cases, to a restriction of function or even complete adrenal failure by displacing the tissue of the adrenal gland. Examples of such disorders include hyperaldosteronism, in which there is overproduction of aldosterone, resulting in excessive reduction of potassium blood levels and increased blood pressure. Another condition is hyperadrenocorticism, in which increased glucorticoid production occurs. This form can be recognized by increased blood sugar levels, muscle and bone loss, and skin changes. Another disease that manifests itself in sudden high blood pressure is hypofunction of the adrenal medulla.However, this occurs relatively rarely. Another example of a disease that can occur in association with the adrenal gland is Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome, in which kidney function stops acutely.
Typical and common kidney diseases
- Weakness of the kidneys (renal insufficiency)
- Acute renal failure
- Chronic renal insufficiency (chronic renal failure).
- Renal pelvic inflammation
- Kidney inflammation
