Suprarenal gland

Right
suprarenal
gland
Right
kidney

Inferior
vena cava

Left
suprarenal
gland

Abdominal
aorta

Suprarenal gland
Pair of endocrine glands situated on the posterior
abdominal wall on the upper pole of kidney
Right suprarenal gland:
Pyramidal in shape
Has a base and apex
Has medial and lateral borders
Has anterior and posterior surfaces
Presents hilum on its anterior surface

 Relations:
Anterior surface right lobe of liver,
inferior vena cava
Posterior surface right kidney and
diaphragm
Medial border right celiac ganglion,
right inferior phrenic artery

Left suprarenal gland

Semi lunar in shape

Has upper and lower ends
Has anterior and posterior surfaces
Has medial and lateral borders
Presents hilum on its anterior surface

 Relations:
Anterior surface stomach, lesser sac
pancreas, splenic artery
Posterior surface left kidney and
diaphragm
Medial border left celiac ganglion, left
inferior phrenic artery, left gastric artery

 Arterial supply: 3 arteries

Superior suprarenal artery inferior
phrenic artery
Middle suprarenal artery abdominal
aorta
Inferior suprarenal artery renal artery
Venous drainage: 1 vein suprarenal
vein
Right suprarenal vein inferior vena cava
Left suprarenal vein left renal vein

Lymphatic drainage:
Lateral (para) aortic lymph nodes
Nerve supply:
Preganglionic sympathetic nerves
Development:
Cortex celomic epithelium (mesoderm)
Medulla neural crest (ectoderm)

Microscopic structure

Microscopic structure

Has connective tissue covering called capsule

Is divided into 2 regions cortex and medulla
Cortex:
Is the outer region and forms the major part of the
gland
Has 3 cellular zones
Zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata and zona
reticularis
Zona glomerulosa:
Outer most part of the cortex (forms 15% of volume of
the gland)
Contains columnar or pyramidal cells in rounded
groups or curved columns which are surrounded by
blood capillaries
The cells produce mineralocorticoids eg aldosterone

 Zona fasciculata:
Is thickest region of the cortex (65% of volume of
gland)
Contains large polyhedral cells (spongyocytes)
arranged in straight columns or cords
Each column is two cells wide with parallely
running blood capillaries
Cells produce glucocorticoids eg cortisole
Zona reticularis:
Innermost part of the cortex (forms 5% of volume
of gland)
Contains branching, interconnected columns of
cells (round shaped)
Cells produce sex hormones eg progesterone,
oestrogens and androgens

 Medulla:
Is the innermost region
Contains groups or
cords of polyhedral cells
called chromaffin cells
These are separated by
blood capillaries
Chromaffin cells
produce noradrenaline
and adrenaline
Medulla also contains
single or small groups of
neurons

Endocrine part of pancreas

Islet of Langerhans:
These are rounded clusters of cells embedded within the
exocrine pancreatic tissue
Each islet is 100 to 200m in diameter and contains
several hundreds of cells
A thin capsule of reticular fibres surrounds each islet and
separates it from the adjacent pancreatic tissue
Islet contains lightly stained polygonal or rounded cells,
arranged in cords separated by network of blood capillaries
Cells of islets are of 3 types A, B and D cells
A cells (alpha cells) usually found at the peripheral part of
islet and produce glucagon
B cells (beta cells) usually found at the centre of islet and
produce insulin
D cells (delta cells) variable in position and produce somatostatin