Anatomy, Abdomen and Pelvis: Adrenal Glands (Suprarenal Glands)

Structure and Function

The adrenal glands lie close to critical vessels and organs. Both adrenal glands rest on top of the kidneys on their respective side of the body (see Image. Kidney Gross Anatomy). They are enclosed within the superior renal fascia and in the perirenal space. At birth, the adrenal glands are roughly one-third the size of the kidney, though, by adulthood, they are only one-thirtieth the size of the kidney. Each adrenal gland is found in the epigastrium at the top of the kidney opposite the 11th intercostal end of the vertebral space and the 12th rib. The right suprarenal gland is pyramidal, while the left suprarenal gland is crescentic in shape. Each gland measures 50 mm in height, 30 mm in breadth, and 10 mm in thickness. Each gland weighs roughly 5 grams. 

Anatomical Relations

The right adrenal gland sits 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.

Internal Structure

The adrenal gland comprises 2 distinct tissues: the outer cortex and the inner medulla. The adrenal cortex tends to be fattier and thus has a more yellow hue. The adrenal medulla is more of a reddish-brown color. A thick capsule consisting of connective tissue surrounds the entire adrenal gland.

The adrenal cortex is much larger than the smaller medulla, accounting only for approximately 15% of the gland. It is composed of 3 distinct zones:

Zona Glomerulosa 

The zona glomerulosa (outer layer) synthesizes mineralocorticoids, the most important of which is aldosterone. This hormone plays an important role in electrolyte balance and blood pressure regulation.

Zona Fasciculata 

The zona fasciculata (middle layer) produces glucocorticoids, the predominant hormone being cortisol. This hormone regulates blood sugar via gluconeogenesis, modulates the immune system, and regulates the metabolism of fat, protein, and carbohydrates. Cortisol secretion is regulated by the adrenocorticotropic hormone, which is released from the pituitary gland.

Zona Reticularis

The zona reticularis (inner zone) produces androgens and plays a role in the development of secondary sexual characteristics. The primary androgen produced in the zona reticularis is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is the most abundant hormone in the body. It serves as a precursor for synthesizing many other hormones the adrenal gland produces, such as progesterone, estrogen, cortisol, and testosterone.

The function of these 3 zones can be remembered by the mnemonic "Salt, Sugar, Sex," as they correlate to the function of the hormones produced in each layer of the adrenal cortex. The names of these zones can also be recalled by remembering "GFR" for glomerulosa, fasciculata, and reticularis.

The adrenal medulla synthesizes catecholamines. Catecholamines are made from the dopamine precursor and combined with tyrosine, thus resulting in norepinephrine. Once norepinephrine has been created, it is then methylated via phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT), which is only present in the adrenal medulla.[1]

Embryology

The adrenal gland comprises 2 embryologically distinct tissues containing 2 different forms of signaling chemicals. One is the outer cortex of mesodermal origin, which produces steroid hormones. The other is a medulla that is derived from neuroectoderm and secretes catecholamines. In the 5th week of development, an isolated cluster of cells emerges within the urogenital ridge, identified as the adrenal-gonadal primordial germ cells. Mesothelial cells penetrate the mesenchymal layer and form fetal adrenal cortex and Leydig cells.[2][3]

Consequently, large acidophilic cells differentiate to form a primitive cortex. Smaller cells then migrate and engulf these acidophilic cells; they proceed to form the definitive cortex. During the 7th week of development, neural crest cells formed at the apex of the neural folds migrate into the adrenal primordium via a ventral pathway. These cells enter the gland from the medial face and then differentiate into chromaffin cells centrally arranged in cords and masses. The cortex engulfs and gradually encapsulates the whole medulla in the later stages of embryonic development.[2][3]

At a molecular level, many factors were described as essential for developing adrenal glands. The most essential are steroidogenic factor-1, CITED-2, β-catenin, and others.[2][4]

Blood Supply and Lymphatics

As the adrenal glands produce various systemically important hormones, they require significant blood supply and are extremely well vascularized. The blood supply is tightly controlled by neuroendocrine and paracrine mechanisms, which is 1 method of regulating the systemic levels of adrenal hormones.[5]

The 3 chief sources of blood supply to the adrenal glands include:

1. The superior adrenal arteries, which are small branches coming off the inferior phrenic artery
2. The middle adrenal artery comes directly off the abdominal aorta.
3. The inferior adrenal artery originates from the renal artery bilaterally [6]

Variations in adrenal artery origin are very common. The superior adrenal artery can come off the abdominal aorta, celiac axis, or, more rarely, an intercostal artery. The superior adrenal artery is also commonly found as multiple arteries. The middle adrenal artery can come off the inferior phrenic, renal, or superior mesenteric arteries or the celiac axis. The inferior adrenal arteries can also originate from the abdominal aorta or the inferior phrenic artery.[7][8][9][10]

The venous drainage from the adrenal glands is dependent on the side of the gland. The left adrenal gland is anatomically further away from the inferior vena cava; therefore, the left adrenal vein drains into the left renal vein. The right adrenal vein is much closer to the inferior vena cava and drains directly into this large vessel. Variations in adrenal venous drainage are common, particularly on the left side. There are reports of venous connections between the left adrenal vein, the left genital vein, and the inferior phrenic vein. Double left adrenal veins are also common.[11]

Nerves

The function of the adrenal gland is mediated by both synaptic stimulation and hormonal stimulation. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) secreted from the anterior pituitary gland activates the adrenal cortex. Subsequently, ACTH activates the respective cortical zones to generate corticosteroids.[3][12] However, the adrenal medulla is innervated by preganglionic nerve fibers (type B) arising from the intermediolateral cell column of the spinal cord's lateral horn from the T5–T8 spinal cord segments. These nerve fibers form the greater splanchnic nerve without entering the paravertebral sympathetic ganglion chain. Some nerve fibers from the greater splanchnic nerve synapse at the celiac ganglion. The blood vessels supplying the adrenal glands then receive their innervation from the celiac ganglion's postsynaptic fibers.

On the other hand, some fibers of the greater splanchnic nerve circumvent the celiac ganglion and directly enter the adrenal gland to synapse at the chromaffin cells' membranes. This is why the adrenal medulla acts as a neuroendocrine junction between the 2 physiological segments. The chromaffin cells release their neurohormones directly into the bloodstream to produce a widespread sympathetic response and act as a special type of postsynaptic neuron.[3][13]

Surgical Considerations

When removing a pheochromocytoma, a neuroendocrine tumor based on the adrenal medulla's chromaffin cells that produce large amounts of catecholamines, it is crucial to ligate the adrenal vein before manipulating the organ. If the adrenal vein is not ligated before manipulating the gland, the pheochromocytoma can release significant levels of catecholamines into the systemic circulation; this causes a catecholamine rush, resulting in a rapid onset of severe hypertension and tachycardia.

The presence of ectopic adrenal tissue has been well documented. If performing a surgical resection of the adrenal gland, care is necessary to assess any ectopic tissue. Ectopic cortical tissue is often adjacent to the kidney or pelvis. Ectopic medullary tissue is located along the descending track of neural crest cells.[14][15]

The adrenal gland can fuse to the liver in adrenohepatic fusion. This fusion can complicate the right adrenalectomy, as the fusion makes freeing adrenal tissue more dangerous. In this case, surgical resection of the gland often requires hepatic vascular control to prevent excessive bleeding or liver damage.[16]

Adrenal tumors are also manageable with arterial embolization when surgery is either not indicated or deemed unsafe. Indications include palliative pain relief, tumor debulking, adrenal hemorrhages, and hyper-functioning adrenal masses in patients who wish to avoid surgery.[17]

Clinical Significance

The adrenal cortex is noteworthy in using cholesterol as a significant precursor for its hormones.

Pathological events of the cortex zones result in the following:

• Zona Glomerulosa: Conn syndrome is manifested by hyperaldosteronism, which excites the renin-aldosterone-angiotensin system (RAA). This condition results in a patient who is typically on 3 antihypertensives with persistent hypertension. Laboratory chemistry would typically indicate hypokalemia and mild hypernatremia.
• Zona Fasiculata: Cushing disease manifests by elevated levels of cortisol, resulting in abdominal striae with significant central obesity, buffalo hump of the nape of the neck, and hyperglycemia. Other attributes include poor wound healing.
• Zona Reticularis: Precocious puberty is manifested by early puberty in males or virilization of young females with androgenic characteristics.

The adrenal medulla contains specialized cells known as chromaffin cells. These cells aggregate in small clusters around blood vessels and synthesize epinephrine and norepinephrine. These sympathetic hormones have many physiological activities, including playing a role in the "fight or flight" response, increasing heart rate, the force of contraction of the heart, metabolic rate, and cognitive awareness. For standardized test purposes, remember that multiple endocrine neoplasia-II is associated with pheochromocytoma and medullary thyroid cancer.[18]

Other Issues

Adrenal Incidentalomas

These adrenal masses occur more frequently than expected and can approach up to 4% of CT scans. If a patient has a history of prior cancer, this may be an indication for a biopsy. If the patient is known to have no primary cancer, it is imperative to rule out a functional adrenal overgrowth. An algorithm for adrenal incidentaloma includes addressing if the tumor is functional.

Appropriate adrenal functional tests, such as the low-dose dexamethasone suppression test, plasma metanephrines, and plasma aldosterone, should be performed. If these are positive, the patient will likely need adrenalectomy. If the tests are negative, possible metastasis should be considered. If there is a history of primary cancer, a biopsy may be able to confirm metastatic disease; however, adrenal incidentalomas should not be biopsied unless there is a known history of cancer, which can lead to seeding a primary adrenal cancer from the biopsy into the surrounding tissues. Breast and lung cancer are the most common primary cancers metastasizing to the adrenal. 

If there is no history of cancer and the adrenal incidentaloma is less than 4 cm, CT should be repeated in 4 to 6 months. If the mass is larger than 4 to 6 cm, a functional workup should be performed, and an adrenalectomy should be considered.[19][20]

A biochemical work-up can identify nonfunctional masses, which are typically less than 4 cm. A functional mass-producing hormone requires medical or surgical intervention, including: 

• Elevated aldosterone: Conn syndrome
• Elevated cortisol: Cushing syndrome
• Elevated androgens: Precocious puberty