Anatomy and structure of adrenal cortex

Adrenal cortex 

•      is a part of adrenal glands which lies superior to each kidney in the retro-peritoneal space.
•      comprising 80-90 percent of the gland and a centrally located adrenal medulla. 
•      produces steroid hormones that are essential for life. 

Three (3) zone of cortex:

• Zona glumerulosa (Most superficial cortical layer)
• Zona fasciculate (Middle cortical layer)
• Zona reticulata (Deepest cortical layer)

Zona glumerulosa

Zona fasciculate

Zona reticulata

Regulation of Cortisol secretion from Adrenal 

1. In response to stress and low-blood glucose the release of hormone passes from the hypothalamus through the hypothalamic pituitary portal system then to the anterior pituitary.
2. The releasing hormone binds to and simulates cells that secret ACTH into the general circulation.
3. In the adrenal gland, adrenal cortex comprises the 90 percent of total adrenal weight while the adrenal medulla comprises 10 percent of it.