cortex

[kor´teks] (pl. cor´tices) (L.)

the outer layer of an organ or other structure, as distinguished from its inner substance or medulla. adj., adj cor´tical.

adrenal cortex (cortex of adrenal gland) the outer, firm layer comprising the larger part of the adrenal gland; it secretes mineralocorticoids, androgens, and glucocorticoids.

cerebellar cortex the superficial gray matter of the cerebellum.

cerebral cortex (cortex cerebra´lis) the convoluted layer of gray matter covering each cerebral hemisphere. See also brain.

renal cortex the granular outer layer of the kidney, composed mainly of glomeruli and convoluted tubules, extending in columns between the pyramids that constitute the renal medulla.

striate cortex part of the occipital lobe that receives the fibers of the optic radiation and serves as the primary receiving area for vision. Called also first visual area.

visual cortex the area of the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex concerned with vision; the striate cortex is also called the first visual area, and the adjacent second and third visual areas serve as its association areas.

cortex of suprarenal gland

[TA]

the outer part of the adrenal gland, consisting of three zones from without inward: zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis; this part of the adrenal cortex yields steroid hormones such as corticosterone, deoxycorticosterone, and estrone.

Synonym(s): cortex glandulae suprarenalis [TA], adrenal cortex, suprarenal cortex

Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

adrenal cortex

The outer portion of the adrenal glands that produces several steroid hormones, including cortisol and aldosterone.

Adrenal Cortex

The firm, outer yellow layer of the adrenal gland which is derived from embryonic mesoderm and consists of 3 layers:
• Zona glomerulosa, the outermost layer, which secretes mineralocorticoids, primarily aldosterone
• Zona fasciculata, the middle layer, which secretes glucocorticoids, primarily cortisol, both at baseline levels and in bursts, when so commanded by ACTH from the anterior pituitary gland
• Zona reticularis, the innermost layer, which secretes androgens, primarily dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA sulfate (DHEA-S).

adrenal cortex

The outer zone of the ADRENAL GLAND that secretes CORTISOL, sex hormones (ANDROGENS) and ALDOSTERONE. See also ADRENAL MEDULLA.

Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

Adrenal cortex

The outer tissue of the adrenal gland. It produces a group of chemically related hormones called corticosteroids that control mineral and water balance in the body and include aldosterone and cortisol.

Mentioned in: Adrenal Gland Scan

cor·tex of su·pra·re·nal gland

(kōrteks sūpră-rēnăl gland) [TA]

The outer part of the suprarenal gland.
Synonym(s): adrenal cortex.

Medical Dictionary for the Dental Professions © Farlex 2012

Mentioned in

References in periodicals archive

The fasciculate area was thicker and the capsule and glomerular area were found conserved to the adrenal cortex in HF group.

Effects of High-fat Diets on Biochemical Profiles and Morpho-Quantitative Characteristics of C57BL/6 Mice Adrenal Glands/ Efectos de la Dieta Alta en Grasa sobre el Perfil Bioquimico y las Caracteristicas Morfo-Cuantitativas de la Glandula Suprarrenal de Raton C57BL/6

DHEA is mainly produced in the ZR of the adrenal cortex. Moreover, DHEA and DHEA sulfate (DHEAS) define adrenarche.

Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry-Based Characterization of Steroid Hormone Profiles in Healthy 6 to 14-Year-Old Male Children

During acute stress, brainstem and limbic forebrain nuclei activate the HPA axis through the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus, resulting in the acute production of GCs by the adrenal cortex. About one hour after acute stress stimulation, GC levels return to baseline due to the activation of a negative feedback mechanism.

Perinatal Programming of Circadian Clock-Stress Crosstalk

Cortisol and aldosterone are the final products of a series of enzyme-controlled reactions that occur in the adrenal cortex. Following transport of cholesterol to the mitochondrion, several cytochrome mixed function oxidases and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases, each encoded by specific genes, control the integrated series of reactions (Figure 1) culminating in the production of cortisol by 11[beta]-hydroxylase (CYP11B1) and aldosterone by aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) [4].

Regulation of Corticosteroidogenic Genes by MicroRNAs

Figure 1 shows that the suprarenal gland of group I was formed of two parts, the adrenal cortex and the adrenal medulla.

Tramadol Induced Adrenal Insufficiency: Histological, Immunohistochemical, Ultrastructural, and Biochemical Genetic Experimental Study

The hypothalamus has an endocrine role via a cascade (e.g., during a stress response it secretes corticotrophic-releasing hormones, stimulating the anterior pituitary gland to release some of its hormones, including ACTH, onto target organs like the adrenal cortex, and cells to release a family of hormones).

An anatomical and physiological evaluation of chronic stress including benefits various natural therapies can provide

Disorders of the adrenal cortex and medulla present a heterogeneous group of conditions.

Preconception management of endocrine disorders

The cortisol synthesis block leads to ACTH stimulation of adrenal cortex with accumulation of cortisol precursors that are directed to sex hormone synthesis.

Congenital adrenal hyperplasia in male and female siblings leading to precocious puberty

The morphological features and immunohistochemical results confirmed the diagnosis of a poorly differentiated metastatic carcinoma of the adrenal cortex.

Intestinal obstruction caused by neoplasms in two cows/Obstrufao intestinal causada por neoplasias em duas vacas