ADRENAL GLAND

Nani Murniat
Departemen Anatomi
• The two adrenal glands
(also called the
suprarenal glands) are
situated in the
abdomen, above the
kidneys and below the
diaphragm.
• They have a high cholesterol content giving them
a yellowish colour.

• They are contained within the same membrane

as the kidney but separated from them by a
fibrous layer of tissue.

• The right gland is tetrahedral in shape and lies

lower than the left, which is semilunar in shape
and usually the larger of the two.
• Retroperitoneal and surrounded by renal fascia
( but are separated from the kidneys by the renal
fat)

• Each gland weighs approximately 5 grams and

measures approximately 50mm vertically, 30mm
across and 10mm thick.
• Adrenals Blood Supply
• Richly vascularized
• arterioles passing through cortex
• capillaries from cortex to medulla
• portal-like circulaton
• Each gland is supplied
by the superior,
middle and inferior
suprarenal arteries,
which arise from the
inferior phrenic artery,
abdominal aorta and
renal artery .
 Veins and Lymph Drainage

• A single vein on each side.

• The right suprarenal vein drains into the inferior

vena cava.

• The left suprarenal veins drains into left renal

vein.

• Lymph Drainage
Lateral aortic nodes
 Innervation suprarenal

• The adrenal glands

have a rich nerve
supply. These nerves
are derived from the
coeliac plexus and the
thoracic splanchnic
nerves.
 • Visceral Pathways
 Input: White Rami
Communicantes
T1-L2,3
 Output: Splanchnic Nerves
Cardiopulmonary (Paravertebral
Gang.)
Abdominopelvic (Prevertebral
Gang.)
 End Organs
Visceral Organs
Splanchnic Nerves/Prevertebral
Ganglia/Plexi
• Development:
• Adrenal cortex – mesoderm of posterior
abdominal wall.
• Adrenal medulla – neural crest cells that are
derived from adjacent sympathetic ganglion.
• Adrenal Cortex Development
• Week 6
fetal cortex forms from mesothelium adjacent to dorsal
mesentery
medulla neural crest cells from adjacent sympathetic ganglia
• Adult cortex
mesothelium mesenchyme encloses fetal cortex
• Late Fetal Period
differentiates to form cortical zones
• Birth
zona glomerulosa, zona fasiculata present
• Year 3
zona reticularis present