NUR 229 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Adrenal Medulla, Chromaffin Cell, Pheochromocytoma
Document Summary
Pheochromocytomas pheo: dark chromo: color cyt: cell oma: tumor. Definition: it is a tumor found on the adrenal medulla of the kidneys that secretes excessive amounts of catecholamines. Adrenal gland: the human body has two adrenal glands that are cone-shaped that sit on the kidneys. The outer layer is the adrenal cortex and the center layer is the adrenal medulla (tumors are found here). Adrenal medulla: found in the adrenal gland and is within the adrenal cortex. Its role is to secrete epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and low amounts of dopamine in response to the body"s sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight system) via chromaffin cells. Chromaffin cells: founds in the adrenal medulla and secrete catecholamines. This is what the tumor is made up of (tumors tend to be benign). These cells are also found in the heart, head, neck, bladder, spine, abdomen. If a tumor(s) develops in this area it is known as paragangliomas rather than pheochromocytoma.
