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Adrenal Glands
Pathophysiology

Histology of the Adrenal Cortex

Cells in the adrenal cortex are arranged into three
concentric zones. At both low and high magnification,
one can readily differentiate these zones based on the
pattern produced by cords of cells. However, the
boundaries between zones are indistinct.

The outermost zone is the zona glomerulosa. Cells

within this zone tend to be columnar in shape and are
arranged in irregular cords. In some species, cells
adjacent to the capsule are are arranged in quite
regular "arcades". In the image below, the zona
glomerulosa from the adrenal of a cat and rabbit is
shown (H&E stain).

The zona fasiculata is the middle and largest of the

three zones in the cortex. Cells in the fasiculata are
polyhedral and usually have a foamy appearance due
to abundant lipid droplets. They also are arranged in
distinctively straight cords that radiate toward the
medulla. The image below is of the fasiculata in a
rabbit adrenal (H&E stain).

As seen the next image, cortical capillaries are usually

prominent within the fasiculata. Notice the shape and
foamy appearance of the cells in this micrograph.

The innermost zone of the cortex is the zona

reticularis. Cells within this zone are arranged in cords
that project in many different directions and
anastomose with one another. In the image below, also
of a rabbit adrenal, the reticularis occupies roughly
2/3rds of the center, with a bit of fasiculata on the left
and the medulla on the right (H&E).

Overview of Adrenal Histology of the Adrenal

Histology Medulla

Send comments to Richard.Bowen@colostate.edu