ADRENAL & PARATHYROID Dr Iram Tassaduq
ADRENAL (SUPRARENAL ) GLAND Lies on upper pole of each kidney Comprised of two zones outer cortex inner medulla Develops from intermediate mesoderm and neural crest cells
INTRODUCTION The adrenal gland is encased in a connective tissue capsule that extends septae into the substance of the gland. The organ is richly vascularized and capsular blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics penetrate along with the connective tissue septae.
CORTEX zona glomerulosa - thin, outermost zone zona fasiculata - thick, middle zone zona reticularis - thin, inner zone
ZONA GLOMERULOSA Composed of columnar or pyramidal cells arranged as rounded or arched cords Occupy 15% of gland volume
ZONA GLOMERULOSA
ZONA FASICULATA Cells are arranged in straight cords. 1-2 cells thick Cords run at right angles to the surface of organ and have capillaries between them Occupy 65% of gland volume
ZONA FASICULATA
ZONA RETICULARIS Polyhedral cells with lipid droplets Form 7% of gland Appears vacuolated in histological preparations Cells are smallest in size
ZONA RETICULARIS
ADRENAL MEDULLA Composed of cords or clumps of cells called chromaffin cells. These can acquire brown colour which is due to oxidation of catecholamines Modified postganglionic sympathetic neurons
ADRENAL MEDULLA
FUNCTIONS OF ADRENAL GLAND
PARATHYROID GLAND Two pairs in mammals Embedded within thyroid gland substance C.T. capsule is thin
PRINCIPAL CELLS/ CHIEF CELLS More numerous of parenchymal cells Small, polyhedral cells, of 7-10 um in diameter Rounded, vesicular nuclei Responsible for secretion of PTH chief cells
OXYPHILL CELLS Constitute a minor portion of parenchyma Found singly or in clusters More rounded & larger than principal cells Distinctly acidophilic cytoplasm No secretory activity