| adrenal leukodystrophy | Sudanophilic leukodystrophy with bronzing of skin and adrenal atrophy. A metabolic disorder of young males, characterised by widespread myelin degeneration and associated adrenal insufficiency. The myelin degeneration is massive in various portions of the brain and sometimes the spinal cord, with the accumulation of degradation products of myelin in macrophages: sudanophilic demyelination; atrophy is present in the adrenal glands and testes, and markedly increased amounts of very long-chain fatty acid are present in both the brain and adrenal glands. Symptoms include bronzing of the skin, dysarthria, cortical blindness, bilateral hemiplegia, pseudobulbar paralysis, and progressive dementia. Probably sex-linked recessive inheritance. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| adrenal medulla | The inner part of the adrenal gland; it synthesises, stores and releases catecholamines. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenal medullary imaging | <investigation, radiology> A nuclear scan that images the adrenal glands after a radioactive tracer is injected into the bloodstream. This test is useful in detecting a pheochromocytoma, particularly if it not within the adrenal gland. (27 Sep 1997) |
| adrenal myelolipoma | <radiology> Benign adrenal tumour, fat, bone marrow elements, usually an incidental finding, also known as adrenal choristoma, only adrenal mass containing fat (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenal rest | An island of cortical tissue separate from the adrenal gland, usually found in the retroperitoneal tissues, kidney, or genital organs. Synonym: adrenal rest. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenal rest tumour | A rare, usually benign, ovarian tumour thought to be derived from embryonic rest cells of the adrenals. This tumour causes various degrees of masculinization. (12 Dec 1998) |
| adrenal virilism | Virilism produced by excessive or abnormal secretory patterns of adrenocortical steroids. Synonym: adrenal virilizing syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenal virilizing syndrome | Virilism produced by excessive or abnormal secretory patterns of adrenocortical steroids. Synonym: adrenal virilizing syndrome. (05 Mar 2000) |
| adrenal weight factor | A postulated substance of adenohypophysial origin responsible for maintenance of the weight of the adrenal cortex. (05 Mar 2000) |
| amorphous fraction of adrenal cortex | Noncrystalline residue of an acetone extract of the adrenal cortex after crystalline steroids, e.g., corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, etc., have been isolated. (05 Mar 2000) |
| carcinoma, adrenal cortical | A malignant neoplasm of adrenal cortical cells demonstrating partial or complete histological and functional differentiation. They are rare, comprising between only 0.05% and 0.2% of all cancers. Women develop functional adrenal cortical carcinomas more commonly than men, but men develop nonfunctioning ones more often than women. Hypercortisolism is the most common presentation for this cancer. Virilism and cushing's syndrome may also result. (12 Dec 1998) |
| paraganglioma, extra-adrenal | A relatively rare, usually benign neoplasm originating in the chemoreceptor tissue of the carotid body, glomus jugulare, and aortic bodies. It consists histologically of rounded or ovoid hyperchromatic cells that tend to be grouped in an alveolus-like pattern within a scant to moderate amount of fibrous stroma and a few large thin-walled vascular channels. They are uncommon before the age of 20, with a female predominance in some series. (12 Dec 1998) |
| medulla of adrenal gland | It is composed principally of anastomosing cords of cells in the core of the gland; the cells display a chromaffin reaction because of the presence of epinephrine and norepinephrine in their granules. Synonym: medulla glandulae suprarenalis, medulla of adrenal gland. (05 Mar 2000) |
| pituitary-adrenal system | The interactions between the anterior pituitary and adrenal glands, in which corticotropin (acth) stimulates the adrenal cortex and adrenal cortical hormones suppress the production of corticotropin by the anterior pituitary. (12 Dec 1998) |
| congenital adrenal hyperplasia | <endocrinology> A genetic disorder present at birth characterised by a deficiency of the hormones aldosterone and cortisol and an overproduction of male sex hormones (androgens). In males this may manifest as enlarged penis, small testes and early development of masculine characteristics. In females features include ambiguous genitalia, failure to menstruate, deep voice and excessive hair. Origin: Gr. Plassein = to form (27 Sep 1997) |