These function tests consist of blood values drawn after stimulation with a hormone drug.

These comparisons are performed by adrenal function tests before, one week after and one month after kidney donation. This can be compared to a right-sided kidney donation, where the adrenal vein is left intact. Due to these anatomical differences a left-sided removal of a kidney always necessitates an interruption of the left adrenal vein, while a right-sided kidney removal does not.Īs the venous drainage of the left adrenal gland is closed during living kidney donation, the gland is most likely functionally impaired. In contrast, on the left side the adrenal vein empties into the kidney vein, which in turn drains to the inferior vana cava. On the right side the adrenal vein empties directly into the inferior vena cava (the large vessel transporting blood from the lower body to the heart). While the arterial supply is accomplished by many small vessels, the venous drainage is only through one vein. During the donor operation the kidney artery, kidney vein and ureter have to be interrupted as far as possible from the kidney to have sufficient length for the reconnection of these structures in the transplant operation.Īn adrenal gland is situated at the upper pole of each kidney. One attractive strategy is the use of kidneys from living donors. The success of kidney transplantation is hampered by the shortage of organs.

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The adrenals are also called the suprarenal glands, 'supra-' in Latin meaning 'on top. It refers to the perch of this gland atop the kidney. The name 'adrenal' comes from the Latin 'ad-', toward + 'rebes', kidney. Norepinephrine secreted by the adrenal gland acts to narrow blood vessels and raise blood pressure.

Epinephrine is secreted in response to low blood levels of glucose as well as exercise and stress it causes the breakdown of the storage product glycogen to the sugar glucose in the liver, facilitates the release of fatty acids from adipose ( fat) tissue, causes dilation (widening) of the small arteries within muscle and increases the output of the heart.

The adrenal medulla makes epinephrine ( adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). The adrenal cortex secretes steroid ( cortisone-related) hormones and the mineralocortoids that regulate the levels of minerals such as sodium and potassium in the blood. The adrenal glands produce hormones that help control the heart rate, blood pressure, the way the body uses food, and other vital functions. The adrenal is made up of an outer wall (the cortex) and an inner portion (the medulla). Gland, adrenal: One of a pair of small glands, each of which sits on top of one of the kidneys.

Kidney and adrenal gland