What Are Adrenal Glands?

What Are Adrenal Glands?

肾上腺（也称为寄生腺或“肾帽”）是位于肾脏顶部的三角形内分泌腺。这些腺体释放荷尔蒙可以对各种身体过程产生影响，包括调节代谢，帮助免疫系统，管理压力反应。

The Anatomy

肾上腺是身体的一部分内分泌系统，由释放称为激素的化学信使的腺体组成。这些激素通过血液携带到特定组织和器官。

An adrenal gland is made of two main parts:

• The outer part of the adrenal glands is known as thecortexand releases hormones including androgens (male sex hormones) and cortisol. The hormones released by the outer part of the adrenal glands help control things like the immune system and metabolism.
• 肾上腺的内部区域称为髓质and produces the hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine. The hormones released by the inner cortex control the body's stress response and is often referred to as thefight or flight response。

How the Adrenal Glands Work

肾上腺腺体释放荷尔蒙进入调节代谢，血压，应力反应和免疫功能的血液中。肾上腺产生的键激素包括：

• Cortisol
• Aldosterone
• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)
• Epinephrine
• Norebinephrine.

Cortisol

皮质醇是一种天然存在的类固醇激素，在各种身体功能中起作用。通常称为“压力激素”，皮质醇在身体的应力反应中的作用是最着名的，并且也参与了以下功能的调节等：

• 血压调节
• 葡萄糖新陈代谢
• Immune function
• Inflammatory response
• Insulin release

Aldosterone

Aldosterone plays an important role in regulating blood pressure as well as the body’s sodium and potassium levels. It sends signals to the kidneys to absorb sodium and release potassium through urine, regulating both blood pressure and the number of electrolytes in the body.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

DHEA is a naturally occurring steroid hormone that converts into a range of hormones, including androgens and estrogens, the male and female sex hormones.

肾上腺素和去甲肾上腺素

荷尔蒙肾上腺素(adrenaline) andNorebinephrine.（去甲肾上腺素）在身体期间释放压力反应。他们有助于引起“肾上腺素匆忙”，当你害怕时，你可能会感受到。

肾上腺障碍

When the adrenal glands produce too much or too little of a hormone, illness can result. If there's a disorder in the pituitary gland, which signals to the adrenal glands when to make certain hormones like cortisol and aldosterone, the adrenal glands functioning can also be impaired.

不同类型的肾上腺病症包括：

• 艾迪生的疾病当肾上腺不再能够用皮质醇和醛固酮提供充分供应身体时，发生。
• 先天性肾上腺增生是一种遗传群疾病，身体不能进行足够的键，通常包括皮质醇和醛固酮。
• 库欣的综合征occurs either because cortisol is being overproduced by the body or from the overuse of corticosteroids like prednisone.
• Pheochromocytomais a rare type of tumor found in the adrenal glands that can secrete large amounts of certain hormones produced by the adrenal glands (catecholamines).

症状

肾上腺疾病的症状取决于on the type of disorder you have and can range from mild to severe.

Addison's Disease

Common signs and symptoms of Addison’s disease include:

• Abdominal pain
• 焦虑或烦躁
• 视力模糊
• 胃口下降
• 沮丧
• 升起时的头晕（姿势低血压）
• 极端疲劳
• 脱发
• 心悸
• Hyperpigmentation (skin pigmentation)
• 灯头
• 低利他多
• Muscle or joint pain
• 恶心或呕吐
• 针刺感觉（周围神经病变）
• 盐渴望
• 动力或震颤
• 减肥

库欣的综合征

Common signs and symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome include:

• Acne
• 布法罗驼峰（额外脂肪存放在颈部后部）
• Elevated glucose levels
• 过度的头发生长（Hirsutism）
• 过度渴望
• Fatigue
• Headache
• 高血压
• 增加排尿
• 月经变化
• Obesity around the trunk
• Psychological symptoms such as mood instability, depression, anxiety, panic attacks
• 圆形，全脸（称为月亮面）
• 皮肤变化
• Stretch marks on the abdomen, arms, breasts, buttocks, and thighs
• 弱点

Pheochromocytoma

Common signs and symptoms of pheochromocytoma include:

• 视力模糊
• 过度出汗
• 过度渴望/urination
• Headache
• High blood sugar
• 心动过速（快速心率）
• 减肥

诊断

Typically, your healthcare provider will assess the function of your adrenal gland by taking a blood and/or urine collections to measure certain adrenal hormone levels and functions. There may also be imaging studies such as a CT or MRI scan.

Treatment

根据您的特定诊断，肾上腺障碍有各种治疗，包括：

• Medication to control the overproduction of the hormones
• 激素替代疗法取代皮质醇和/或醛固酮缺乏
• Surgery to remove one or both adrenal glands, or to remove the tumor in the case of pheochromocytoma