Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis,
Adrenal Glands
(Suprarenal Glands)
What does the left adrenal gland do?
They provide
essential hormones that control the body’s fluid and salt regulation
. They also produce hormones that control our fear, anger, blood pressure, muscle development, sexual drive and sugar metabolism. They secrete hormones that help the body deal with stress.
Is the adrenal gland in the abdomen or pelvis?
The
right adrenal gland
sits just below the liver, posterior to the inferior vena cava, and anterior to the diaphragm. The left adrenal gland sits medially to the spleen, superior to the splenic artery and vein, lateral to the abdominal aorta, and anterior to the diaphragm.
Where is the adrenal gland located?
Adrenal glands, also known as suprarenal glands, are small, triangular-shaped glands located
on top of both kidneys
. Adrenal glands produce hormones that help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions.
What is the purpose of the adrenal glands located at the superior end of the kidneys?
The adrenal (or suprarenal) glands are paired endocrine glands situated over the medial aspect of the upper poles of each kidney. They
secrete steroid and catecholamine hormones directly into the blood
.
Which endocrine glands are located in the pelvic cavity?
Ovaries
: The ovaries are a pair of almond-shaped glands located in the pelvic body cavity lateral and superior to the uterus in females. The ovaries produce the female sex hormones progesterone and estrogens.
What are the signs of adrenal gland problems?
- Severe pain in your lower body that comes on quickly.
- Bouts of vomiting and diarrhea.
- Weakness.
- Confusion and loss of consciousness.
- Low blood glucose,
- Low blood pressure.
What happens when the adrenal gland is not functioning properly?
With adrenal insufficiency, the inability to increase cortisol production with stress can lead to
an addisonian crisis
. An addisonian crisis is a life-threatening situation that results in low blood pressure, low blood levels of sugar and high blood levels of potassium. You will need immediate medical care.
What happens if you have a tumor on your adrenal gland?
The most common sign of a pheochromocytoma is
high blood pressure
. It can be always high or sometimes high. Sometimes the tumor can cause high blood pressure that can be life threatening. It is a very rare cause of high blood pressure.
Can a person live with one adrenal gland?
They secrete the hormone which helps the body deal with the stress. Like the kidneys,
at least one adrenal gland is usually required to live a normal life
.
What are endocrine glands?
An organ that makes hormones that are released directly into the blood and travel to tissues and organs all over the body
. Endocrine glands help control many body functions, including growth and development, metabolism, and fertility. Some examples of endocrine glands are the pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands.
What is the right adrenal gland?
The Right Adrenal Gland: The adrenal gland on the right side is
located on top of the right kidney
and is very close to the inferior vena cava (IVC). The IVC is the biggest vein that brings blood back to the heart from the entire body. The right adrenal gland is also very close to the liver.
What gland is both an endocrine and exocrine gland?
The pancreas
has both an endocrine and an exocrine function.
Which gland is called the master gland?
The pituitary gland
is sometimes called the “master” gland of the endocrine system because it controls the functions of many of the other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland is no larger than a pea, and is located at the base of the brain.
What does a nodule on the adrenal gland mean?
An adrenal nodule is
when normal tissue grows into a lump
. Most incidental adrenal nodules do not cause health problems. However, they need to be evaluated for signs of excess hormone production or suspicion of malignancy.
Does abdominal CT show adrenal glands?
The CT scan (also called CAT scan) is
very accurate at examining the adrenal glands and other abdominal structures
and can be used on any type of adrenal tumor.
