Contents
What does the zona glomerulosa produce?
The zona glomerulosa is the outermost layer, in which cells arranged in arcuate formations produce mineralocorticoids, mainly aldosterone.
What does the zona reticularis secrete?
Zona reticularis, the innermost layer of the cortex, secretes sex hormones (androgens). and small amounts of glucocorticoids. These hormones are secreted by the inner zone of the cortex, which is called the zona reticularis.
What does zona glomerulosa look like?
Layers of cortex. The zona glomerulosa (sometimes, glomerular zone) of the adrenal gland is the most superficial layer of the adrenal cortex, lying directly beneath the renal capsule. Its cells are ovoid and arranged in clusters or arches (glomus is Latin for “ball”).
What is released from zona fasciculata?
Glucocorticoids. These are produced in the zona fasciculata. The primary glucocorticoid released by the adrenal gland in humans is cortisol. Its secretion is regulated by the hormone ACTH from the anterior pituitary gland.
What is the zona reticularis?
The zona reticularis is the innermost layer of the adrenal cortex, lying just above the adrenal medulla.
Why does the zona glomerulosa only produce aldosterone?
Regulation of Mineralocorticoid Secretion. Aldosterone is produced exclusively in the zona glomerulosa under a distinct regulatory pathway. This steroid hormone plays an important role in the maintenance of fluid volume and sodium and potassium balance and regulates blood pressure (Young, 1988).
What is the function of zona reticularis?
The zona reticularis is the site of biosynthesis of androgen precursors such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione from cholesterol. These androgens are released into the bloodstream and transported to gonads where they are converted into testosterone or oestrogen.
Does zona reticularis secrete glucocorticoids?
The human adrenal cortex comprises three distinct zones with unique steroid products, namely the zona glomerulosa, which secretes the mineralocorticoids, the zona fasciculate, which secretes the glucocorticoids and the zona reticularis (ZR), which at adrenarche, begins to produce the so-called adrenal androgens.
What hormone is secreted by the zona fasciculata?
Cortisol
Adrenal Hormones Cortisol is a glucocorticoid produced by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex and is involved in the response to stress. Cortisol acts to increase blood pressure and blood glucose and has an immunosuppressive action.
What organ system does zona glomerulosa belong to?
The zona glomerulosa is the outermost layer of the adrenal cortex, and is responsible for secreting the mineralocorticoid hormones ( ie, aldosterone) which are important in regulating fluid balance. Further information on the anatomy of the adrenal glands can be found here.
Lysis of the cortical cells in all three zones (zonae glomerulosa, fasciculata, and reticularis) is attributed mainly to the actions of chemical mediators from T lymphocytes, but humoral immunity probably contributes to the disease. Dogs are the domestic species most commonly affected by primary hypoadrenocorticism (see Disorders of Dogs ).
What is the function of zona glomerulosa cells?
The cells of zona glomerulosa, a few layers of cells just beneath the adrenal capsule, synthesize and secrete aldosterone, whereas those of zonae fasciculata and reticularis secrete glucocorticoids and androgens, respectively.
Fig 1 – Histology of the adrenal gland. The cells of the Zona Fasciculata secrete the glucocorticoids Cortisol and Corticosterone. These hormones regulate carbohydrate metabolism, particularly when an individual is in a time of stress (as part of the “fight-or-flight” response).
When is the maturation of the zona reticularis?
Maturation of the zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex is essentially complete by 3 months of age in the rhesus macaque. An increase in the secretion of the adrenal androgen dehydroepiandrosterone and its sulfate marks the maturation of the adrenal cortex [61 ].