MODIFIABLE FACTORS: Hypothalamus secretes corticotropin NON-MODIFIABLE FACTORS:

releasing hormones (CRH)

• corticosteroid use due to • Female
her preexisting condition • 40 years old
Stimulates pituitary gland to stimulates
ACTH

Targets adrenal cortex (Zona Fasciculata)

It stimulates glycogenesis & glycogenosis

Increased serum glucose & increased

Serum ACTH & Cortisol
glycogen stores in the liver
increase

Increase the excretion of potassium by the

kidneys

Serum Sodium = 123 Too much water may dilute sodium in the
mEq/L blood

Excess Serum Cortisol

Excess cortisol in the Cortisol exerts ↑serum cortisol ↑Serum cortisol Normal serum
renal tubule negative Depressed →↓Fibroblast →↓Fibroblast cortisol protects
saturates the feedback on proliferation →↓ proliferation against damaging
Confusion
enzymes 11β-HSD2, hypothalamus Collagen synthesis →↓collagen effects of
which converts synthesis uncontrolled
cortisol to cortisone →↓ inflammatory and
gonadotropin Skin atrophy with immune responses
Skeletal muscle,
Capacity of body to releasing loss of connective
especially upper
convert cortisol to hormone (GnRH) tissue
arms & thighs ↑ serum cortisol →
cortisone is exceeded secretion over-suppression of
Bruising ↑abdominal inflammation and
size stretches Body impaired cell-
Excess cortisol can ↓ GnRH
the fragile skin Weakness mediated immunity
mimic aldosterone →↓LH/FSH
and bind to →↓estrogen and to become
mineralocorticoid testosterone thinner
WBC = 20,000 per
receptors production →venous blood microliter
of the
underlying
↑Aldosterone effect Amenorrhea dermis
→↑ Na+
becomes
reabsorption from Abdominal
visible
the cortical collecting Pain
duct into blood
vessels stretch mark on the extremities and
on the abdomen

Removal of Water follows Na+

positively into blood vessels Water reabsorption
charged Na+ to balance the → expansion of blood Blood Pressure = 160/100
from tubular osmotic pressure volume
lumen creates a between the
negative blood and renal
luminal tubules K+ follows the electrical ↓Serum K+ Serum Potassium = 3.2
environment gradient and is secreted into concentration mmol/L
tubular lumen