1.Take a closer look at the structure of the organ:
- find the connective tissue capsule and blood vessels attached to it. Identify the outer region - cortex (it makes up about 80% of the gland) and inner region - medulla ;
- Identify three zones of the cortex:
- zona glomerulosa, the thin outer zone of the adrenal cortex, lies immediately under the fibrous capsule of the gland. It is made up of small endocrine cells arranged in clusters or arches;
- zona fasciculata is the widest middle layer of the cortex. It contains cords of cells surrounded by sinusoid capillary vessels;
- zona reticularis is the narrow innermost layer of the cortex lying just above the adrenal medulla. The cells are arranged in cords that project in different directions giving a net-like appearance. Zona reticularis cells are surrounded by blood capillaries;
- see to certain features of zona glomerulosa cells (small in size with scant cytoplasm), zona fasciculata cells (large oxyphil vacuolated cells known as spongiocytes) and zona reticularis cells (smaller in size than zona fasciculata cells);
- medullary cells are also known as chromaffin cells. They are surrounded by venous sinuses.
2. Draw a fragment of the organ and sign:
- I – capsule,
- II – cortex
(1 - zona glomerulosa, 2 - zona fasciculata, 3 - zona reticularis, 4 - blood capillaries), - III - medulla (5 - сhromaffin cells, 6 - venous sinuses).
3. Define and write significant features of the slide.