1. ADRENAL GLAND
Development & Gross Anatomy
Marami binti Mustapa
Department of Anatomy
FMDH NDUM

3. LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Describe the gross features of the adrenal gland
a) Position & shape
b) Cortex & medulla
2. Describe the coverings of adrenal gland
3. Explain 2 development sources of adrenal gland
4. Describe the important relations of adrenal gland
5. Describe the blood supplies and innervation of adrenal gland
6. List the clinical conditions related to the adrenal gland

4. CONTENTS
1. Gross structure of the adrenal gland
2. Structures in close relation to the adrenal gland
3. Blood supplies of the adrenal gland
4. Lymphatic drainage and innervation of adrenal gland
5. Development of the adrenal cortex and medulla
6. Common clinical conditions due to adrenal gland abnormality

5. • The suprarenal (adrenal) gland is a
component of the hypothalamic-
pituitary-suprarenal axis that is
responsible for coordinating stress
response and metabolism.
• Yellowish retroperitoneal organ
that lies on superomedial aspects
of the kidneys and diaphragm
• Surrounded by CT containing
perirenal fat
• Closed and attached to the
diaphragm by renal fascia
• Separated from kidneys by fibrous
tissue
Perire
nal fat
Renal fascia

6. Right adrenal gland Left adrenal gland
Shape Triangular shape Semilunar shape
Relations Right crus of
diaphragm, IVC, liver
Spleen, stomach, pancreas,
left crus of diaphragm

7. 4-5 cm
IVC
Right crus
of
diaphragm
Celiac
ganglion
Celiac
trunk
SMA
Left crus
of
diaphragm
Right crus of diaphragm
Left crus of diaphragm

8. • Enclosed by fibrous capsule
and a cushion of fat
• 2 parts:
• Cortex
• Medulla
• Hilum: place for veins and
lymphatic vessels exit the
glands
Different embryological
origins and different
functions
ADRENAL GLAND

9. STRESSCortex:
• Derives from mesoderm
• Secretes corticosteroids and
androgens
Medulla:
• Mass of nervous tissue
derives from ectoderm
(neural crest cells)
• Secretes catacholamines
(epinephrine &
norepinephrine)

10. Blood supplies
Arteries
1. Superior suprarenal arteries
‒ Branches of Inferior phrenic arteries
2. Middle suprarenal arteries
‒ Branches of abdominal aorta
3. Inferior suprarenal arteries
‒ Branches of renal arteries
Venous drainage
• The short right suprarenal vein drains
into the IVC
• The long left suprarenal vein joins by
the inferior phrenic vein drains into left
renal vein

12. Lymphatic drainage
• The lymph passes to the
lumbar lymph nodes

13. NERVE SUPPLY
• Preganglionic sympathetic fibers
to the gland do not synapse in
the sympathetic ganglia but go
directly to the gland and
synapse in ganglia in the cortex
and medulla.

14. FUNCTIONS OF SUPRARENAL GLAND
• The cortex of the suprarenal glands secretes
hormones that include:
• Mineralocorticoids: involves in control of
fluid and electrolyte balance
• Glucocorticoids: involves in control of the
metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and
proteins
• Small amounts of sex hormones, which
probably play a role in the prepubertal
development of the sex organs.
• The medulla of the suprarenal glands
secretes the catecholamines: epinephrine
and norepinephrine

15. DEVELOPMENT OF
SUPRARENAL GLAND
• The two parts of the adrenal gland i.e. the cortex and the
medulla develop from two different origins.
Cortex
• is mesodermal in origin;
• develops from the celomic epithelium (mesothelium) of
the posterior abdominal wall.
Medulla
• is ectodermal in origin;
• develops from the neural crest cells.

16. • The cortex
• During the 5th week of development,
• By proliferation of mesothelial cells btw the root of
mesentry and developing gonad
• Which then penetrate the underlying mesenchyme
• Mesothelial cells differentiate into fetal cortex
• Second wave of mesenchymal cells arise from the
mesothelium, enclose the fetal cortex and forms a thinner
definitive (permanent) cortex.
• The medulla
• It forms a mass medial to the fetal cortex
• derived from the cells originating in the adjacent
sympathetic ganglion (neural crest cells)
• Chromaffin cells is a neural crest cells lie in the medulla

17. Relative proportions of components of adrenal
gland: A, fifth month of gestation; B, at birth; C, adult.
• At birth: the structure of the external glomerular zone is still not precise, but the
zona fasciculata is seen readily and is directly continuous with the fetal zone
• The fetal zone begins to regress, but is not completely gone until the second year of
life
• While the fetal zone is regressing, the zona glomerulosa and fasciculata develop,
and the zona reticularis makes its appearance
• Development of the definitive cortex and its physiologic activity is regulated by
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and it is not completely differentiated until
18 to 21 months after birth

18. CLINICAL RELATIONS
• Pheochromocytoma
• Rare, catecholamine-secreting tumor
• Autosomal dominant inheritance
• Increases production of catecholamine (epinephrine and
norepinephrine)
• Signs and symptoms:
• Headache
• Sweating
• Palpitations
• Hypertension
• Anxiety
• Treatments: surgical removal of adrenal gland

19. • Adrenal tumour
• Increase production of cortisol
• Causes Cushing’s syndrome
CLINICAL RELATIONS

20. • Addison’s disease
• Cause by inadequate production
of cortisol
• Autoimmune disease
• The disorder causes the body’s
immune system to gradually
destroy the adrenal cortex
CLINICAL RELATIONS