A & P Case Study on Addisons Disease
Unit 1 Case Study
Addison’s disease is from a result from damage to the adrenal cortex. These two
adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys, where they are enclosed in a
fibrous capsule and a cushion of fat. . The have an outer portion, called the
cortex, which is a glandular tissue derived from embryonic mesoderm. The inner
portion called the medulla, which is more like a knot of nervous tissue than a gland
and it is part of the sympathetic nervous system. The adrenal cortex synthesizes
over two dozen steroid hormones called corticosteroids. The Adrenal medulla is part
of the autonomic nervous system. They are often referred to as the suprarenal
glands. That damage causes the cortex to produce less of their hormones
(corticosteroids) The 3 types of hormone secreted are the glucocorticoid hormone
(Cortisol) which maintain glucose control, decrease immune response and help the
body respond to stress. The mineralocorticoid hormones (aldosterone) regulates
sodium and potassium balance. The 3rd one is the sex hormones, androgen and
estrogen, which affect sexual development and sex drive. There are a few things that
may cause damage such as, the immune system mistakenly attacking the gland
(autoimmune disorder), infections such as tuberculosis, HIV or fungal infections.
Hemorrhage’s, tumors and use of blood thinning drugs are some other causes. Risk
factors for the autoimmune type of Addison’s disease include chronic thyroiditis,
dermatis herpetiforms, Graves’ disease, hypoparathyroidism, hypopituitarism,
myasthenia gravis, testicular dysfunction, type 1 diabetes and pernicious anemia.
Usually the destruction of the adrenal gland cortex is often gradual and the
symptoms are mild. Addison’s often goes undiagnosed until a sudden illness or accident occurs. The worsening of symptoms is called acute adrenal insufficiency
and can be life threatening. Let’s go back to the
Addison’s disease is from a result from damage to the adrenal cortex. These two
adrenal glands are located on top of the kidneys, where they are enclosed in a
fibrous capsule and a cushion of fat. . The have an outer portion, called the
cortex, which is a glandular tissue derived from embryonic mesoderm. The inner
portion called the medulla, which is more like a knot of nervous tissue than a gland
and it is part of the sympathetic nervous system. The adrenal cortex synthesizes
over two dozen steroid hormones called corticosteroids. The Adrenal medulla is part
of the autonomic nervous system. They are often referred to as the suprarenal
glands. That damage causes the cortex to produce less of their hormones
(corticosteroids) The 3 types of hormone secreted are the glucocorticoid hormone
(Cortisol) which maintain glucose control, decrease immune response and help the
body respond to stress. The mineralocorticoid hormones (aldosterone) regulates
sodium and potassium balance. The 3rd one is the sex hormones, androgen and
estrogen, which affect sexual development and sex drive. There are a few things that
may cause damage such as, the immune system mistakenly attacking the gland
(autoimmune disorder), infections such as tuberculosis, HIV or fungal infections.
Hemorrhage’s, tumors and use of blood thinning drugs are some other causes. Risk
factors for the autoimmune type of Addison’s disease include chronic thyroiditis,
dermatis herpetiforms, Graves’ disease, hypoparathyroidism, hypopituitarism,
myasthenia gravis, testicular dysfunction, type 1 diabetes and pernicious anemia.
Usually the destruction of the adrenal gland cortex is often gradual and the
symptoms are mild. Addison’s often goes undiagnosed until a sudden illness or accident occurs. The worsening of symptoms is called acute adrenal insufficiency
and can be life threatening. Let’s go back to the