ABSTRACT
The adrenal glands are situated within a compartment of the renal fascia in relation to the upper poles of the kidneys. The right and is smaller and triangular, and the left larger and crescentic. The right adrenal gland is located partially behind the inferior vena cava and superior to the right kidney, whereas the left adrenal is anteromedial to the left kidney. The arterial blood supply for both glands arises from the abdominal aorta and the respective inferior phrenic and renal arteries. The venous drainage is chiefly via the main adrenal vein that drains into the inferior vena cava on the right and the renal vein on the left side. Histologically, the adrenal gland is comprised of an outer cortex derived from mesoderm and an inner medulla derived from the neural crest, i.e. the ectoderm. Table 28.1 shows the hormones secreted by the various layers of the adrenal gland and their key regulatory mechanisms.
