Abstract
Both adrenals comprise two embryologically and physiologically distinct parts: the cortex, producing steroid hormones, and the medulla, synthesizing catecholamine. The cortex is derived from mesoderm, while the medulla is derived from the ectoderm. Each of the two adrenal glands is an individual anatomic entity. They are suprarenal endocrine viscera, located in the lateral retroperitoneum area, embedded in the perirenal fat, surrounded by perirenal fascia and cap the superomedial pole of each kidney. All of the vessels and nerves form a thick arborization at the periphery of the adrenal glands, fastened in close proximity to the medial retroperitoneal structures. The adrenal glands receive their arterial blood from three sources: a superior source, which arises from the inferior phrenic artery; a medial source, by the abdominal aorta; and an inferior source, by some branches from the renal artery. The main venous drainage of the adrenal glands is through the central vein that enters the posterior-lateral border of inferior vena cava on the right, while the left one drains into the left renal vein.
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Lombardi, C.P., De Crea, C., Pennestri, F., Raffaelli, M. (2013). Surgical Anatomy. In: Valeri, A., Bergamini, C., Bellantone, R., Lombardi, C. (eds) Surgery of the Adrenal Gland. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2586-8_2
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