Adrenal Cortex – Adrenal Gland (Nursing)

00:00 The next endocrine gland that we'll discuss is the adrenal gland. This is a paired pyramid-shaped organ that sits on top of the kidneys and so sometimes it is referred to as the suprarenal gland. Structurally and functionally, the adrenal gland is actually 2 glands in 1.

00:25 The outer portion of the adrenal gland is referred to as the adrenal cortex. This is a 3-layer glandular tissue that synthesizes and secretes several different hormones. The inner portion of the adrenal gland is the adrenal medulla. This is made up of nervous tissue that is a part of the sympathetic nervous system. Do you remember the other gland that is made up of 2 types of tissues? Recall that the pituitary gland which contains the posterior pituitary and the anterior pituitary is also made up of nervous tissue and glandular tissue. The adrenal cortex or the outer portion of the adrenal gland is going to produce over 24 different hormones collectively called the corticosteroids. Don't worry we're not going to go through all 24. Because the steroid hormones are not stored in cells, the rate of release of these hormones is going to depend on the rate of synthesis of these hormones by the adrenal cortex. Recall that the adrenal cortex is made up of 3 layers of glandular tissue. Each of these layers is going to be made up of cortical cells that produce different corticosteroids. The most superficial layer is the zona glomerulosa. This is going to be responsible for the production of mineralocorticoids. The middle layer is the zona fasciculata. This is going to be responsible for the production of glucocorticoids. And then we have the bottommost layer which is closest to the medulla known as the zona reticularis. This is going to be responsible for the production of the gonadocorticoids. The first 2 are going to be discussed in this lecture and the latter is discussed more in the reproductive system lectures.