Adrenal medulla

mone release can occur rather quickly. In response to

stressors such as exercise or imminent danger, medullary
cells release catecholamines into the blood in a 17:3 ratio
of adrenaline to noradrenaline.[1]
Notable eects of adrenaline and noradrenaline include
increased heart rate and blood pressure, blood vessel constriction in the skin and gastrointestinal tract, smooth
muscle (bronchiole and capillary) dilation, and increased
metabolism, all of which are characteristic of the ght-oright response. Release of catecholamines is stimulated
by nerve impulses, and receptors for catecholamines are
widely distributed throughout the body.
Medullary part of the adrenal gland (on the pointer).

3 Origin

The adrenal medulla (Latin: medulla glandulae suprarenalis) is part of the adrenal gland. It is located at
the center of the gland, being surrounded by the adrenal
cortex. It is the innermost part of the adrenal gland,
consisting of cells that secrete epinephrine (adrenaline),
norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and a small amount of
dopamine in response to stimulation by sympathetic
preganglionic neurons.

Medullary cells are derived from the embryonic neural

crest and, as such, are simply modied neurons.
In particular, they are modied postganglionic cells of
the autonomic nervous system that have lost their axons
and dendrites, receiving innervation from corresponding
preganglionic bers. The cells form clusters around large
blood vessels.
Moreover, as the synapses between pre- and postganglionic bers are called ganglia, the adrenal medulla is
actually a ganglion of the sympathetic nervous system.

Basic

The adrenal medulla consists of irregularly shaped cells

grouped around blood vessels. These cells are intimately 4 Pathology
connected with the sympathetic division of the autonomic
nervous system (ANS). In fact, these adrenal medullary
Neoplasms include:[2]
cells are modied postganglionic neurons, and preganglionic autonomic nerve bers lead to them directly from
Pheochromocytoma
(most
common),
a
the central nervous system. The adrenal medulla therecatecholamine-secreting
tumor
of
the
adrenal
fore aects available energy; heart rate; and metabolism.
medulla

Neuroblastoma, a neuroendocrine tumor of any neural crest tissue of the sympathetic nervous system

Function

Ganglioneuroma, a tumor in the nerve cells of the

peripheral nervous system

Rather than releasing a neurotransmitter, the cells of the

adrenal medulla secrete hormones.
Composed mainly of hormone-producing chroman
cells, the adrenal medulla is the principal site of the conversion of the amino acid tyrosine into the catecholamines
epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

The adrenal medulla may be poorly formed or absent in

cases of absent adrenal gland. The deciency in circulating catecholamines is mildly symptomatic due to compensation by the autonomous nervous system, except in
Because the ANS, specically the sympathetic division, episodes of hypoglycemia where glycogenolysis cannot be
exerts direct control over the chroman cells the hor- stimulated by circulating epinephrine .[2]
1

In dopamine beta hydroxylase deciency, the entire body cannot eciently produce epinephrine and
norepinephrine from dopamine, this results in severe
dysautonomia but most crucially due to autonomous nervous system failure which requires epinephrine and norepinephrine as neurotransmitters, dopamine being used in
this pathology as an inadequate substitute.[2][3]

See also
Adrenal gland
History of catecholamine research

References

[1] Introduction to Autonomics, Part 2 - Page 5 of 12 anatomy

module at med.umich.edu
[2] Fung, M. M.; Viveros, O. H.; OConnor, D. T. (16
November 2007). Diseases of the adrenal medulla.
Acta Physiologica 192 (2): 325335. doi:10.1111/j.17481716.2007.01809.x. PMC 2576282. PMID 18021328.
[3] Robertson, D; Haile, V; Perry, SE; Robertson, RM;
Phillips JA, 3rd; Biaggioni, I (July 1991). Dopamine
beta-hydroxylase deciency. A genetic disorder of cardiovascular regulation.. Hypertension 18 (1): 18.
doi:10.1161/01.hyp.18.1.1. PMID 1677640.

External links
Anatomy photo:40:04-0202 at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center - Posterior Abdominal Wall:
Blood Supply to the Suprarenal Glands
Anatomy Atlases - Microscopic Anatomy, plate
15.292 - Adrenal Gland

EXTERNAL LINKS

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