Zona glomerulosa

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Zona glomerulosa
Layers of cortex.
Latin	'
Gray's	subject #277 1278
System
MeSH	[1]
[[Image:|190px|center|]]

The zona glomerulosa of the adrenal gland is the most superficial layer of the adrenal cortex, lying directly beneath the adrenal gland's capsule. Its cells are ovoid in shape and are arranged in clusters or arches (glomus is Latin for "ball").

In response to increased potassium levels or decreased blood flow to the kidneys, cells of the zona glomerulosa secrete the mineralocorticoid aldosterone into the blood as part of the renin-angiotensin system. Aldosterone regulates the body's concentration of electrolytes, primarily sodium and potassium, by acting on the distal convoluted tubule of kidney nephrons to:

• increase sodium reabsorption
• increase potassium excretion
• increase water reabsorption through osmosis

The enzyme aldosterone synthase acts in this location.

[edit] External links

• Histology at Boston University 14502loa
• Anatomy Atlases - Microscopic Anatomy, plate 15.292 - "Adrenal Gland"

This page uses content from the English-language version of Wikipedia. The original article was at Zona glomerulosa. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Psychology Wiki, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.