


The intervening stroma of the adrenal gland consists primarily of small capillaries.Īdrenal gland, dog. These epithelial cells are arranged into cords, and have abundant vacuolated cytoplasm. The zona fasciculate is the middle layer of the adrenal cortex. The zona fasciulata primarily secretes glucocorticoid hormones, which exert their metabolic effects on numerous tissues, increasing glycogen synthesis, mobilization of lipids, an protein catabolism.Īdrenal gland, horse. The zona fasciulata is the thickest layer of the adrenal cortex, and is composed of linearly arranged trabeculae of polygonal epithelial cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm is filled with small, non-staining vacuoles. The intervening stroma of the adrenal gland consists primarily of small capillaries. These epithelial cells are arranged into tight clusters and trabeculae. The zona glomerulosa is the outermost layer of the adrenal cortex. Cells of the zona glomerulosa are responsible for production of mineralocorticoid hormones, primarily aldosterone, which exerts its effect on the kidneys to increase sodium retention.Īdrenal gland, horse. The zona glomerulosa, the outermost layer, is composed of trabecular arrangements of polygonal cells with moderate amounts of eosinophilic, slightly vacuolated cytoplasm, and round nuclei. The zona glomerulosa, the zona fasciculate, and zona reticularis. The adrenal cortex contains three distinct cellular populations. The epithelial cells of each layer are interspersed with an abundant network of small capillaries and scant collagenous stroma.Īdrenal gland, horse. These three layers are each responsible for producing specific steroid hormones. The layers, from outermost to innermost, are: zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, and zona reticularis.

The outer adrenal cortex is composed of three functionally (and somewhat, morphologically) distinct layers, or zones, in most mammals and birds.
