This is an image of a histological specimen of the adrenal gland labelled 1-4.

Which of the following options shows the correct parts for each labelled number?
[lightgallery]

Options:
explanation: This is not the correct answer. It is important to note that the inner part of the adrenal gland is the adrenal medulla while the outer part is the adrenal cortex. The cortex is further divided into three zones from superficial to deep. An easy way to remember the adrenal cortical histology and function from superficial to deep is the saying " GFR, the deeper you go, the sweeter it gets " I.e. Salt (zona glomerulosa, aldosterone), Sugar (zona fasciculata, glucocorticoids) and Sex (zona Reticularis, androgens).
name: 1: Adrenal medulla, 2: Zona reticularis, 3: Zona fasciculata, 4: Zona glomerulosa
label: e
answer: no
explanation: This is not the correct answer. The outer part, the adrenal parenchyma, consists of the cortical cells where three concentric zones can be distinguished, namely the outer (zona glomerulosa), middle (zona fasciculata) and inner zone (zona reticularis). The inner part, the adrenal medulla, appears fairly homogenous. While the medulla is labelled correctly, the cortical zones are not labelled correctly in this option. An easy way to remember the adrenal cortical histology and function from superficial to deep is the saying " GFR, the deeper you go, the sweeter it gets " I.e. Salt (zona glomerulosa, aldosterone), Sugar (zona fasciculata, glucocorticoids) and Sex (zona Reticularis, androgens).
name: 1: Zona fasciculata, 2: Zona glomerulosa, 3: Zona reticularis, 4: Adrenal medulla
label: b
answer: no
explanation: This is not the correct answer. While the medulla is labelled correctly, the cortical zones are not labelled correctly in this option. An easy way to remember the adrenal cortical histology and function from superficial to deep is the saying " GFR, the deeper you go, the sweeter it gets " I.e. Salt (zona glomerulosa, aldosterone), Sugar (zona fasciculata, glucocorticoids) and Sex (zona Reticularis, androgens).
name: 1: Zona glomerulosa, 2: Zona reticularis, 3: Zona fasciculata, 4: Adrenal medulla
label: c
answer: no
explanation: This is not the correct answer.
name: 1: Adrenal medulla , 2: Zona fasciculata, 3: Zona reticularis, 4: Zona glomerulosa
label: d
answer: no
explanation: This is the correct answer as the parts are labelled accurately from superficial to deep. The outer part, the adrenal parenchyma, consists of the cortical cells where three concentric zones can be distinguished, namely the outer (zona glomerulosa), middle (zona fasciculata) and inner zone (zona reticularis). The inner part, the adrenal medulla, appears fairly homogenous. In the adrenal cortex, the cells of the zona glomerulosa produce mineralocorticoids such as aldosterone, cells of the zona fasciculata produce glucocorticoids such as cortisol, and lastly, cells of the zona reticularis produce androgens such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). An easy way to remember the adrenal cortical histology and function from superficial to deep is the saying " GFR, the deeper you go, the sweeter it gets " I.e. Salt (zona glomerulosa, aldosterone), Sugar (zona fasciculata, glucocorticoids) and Sex (zona Reticularis, androgens). As for the adrenal medulla, it consists of chromaffin cells that contain secretory granules which synthesize and store adrenaline and noradrenaline.
name: 1: Zona glomerulosa, 2: Zona fasciculata, 3: Zona reticularis, 4: Adrenal medulla
label: a
answer: yes

Correct answer: a