If the adrenal glands were removed from a patient,his plasma cortisol levels would ________ and secretion of ________ by the adenohypophysis would ________ because the ________ would secrete ________ amounts of the regulator ________.This last effect would occur because of the loss of ________.
A)Increase; TSH; increase; brain; reduced; ACTH; equilibrium
B)Decrease; ACTH; increase; hypothalamus; increased; CRH; negative feedback
C)Decrease; CRH; remain stable; hypothalamus; reduced; ACTH; negative feedback
D)Decrease; ACTH; increase; hypothalamus; increased; CRH; positive feedback
E)Decrease; ACTH; increase; hypothalamus; increased; CRH; plasma electrolytes in the urine

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The adrenal glands produce cortisol, so its removal would lead to decreased plasma cortisol levels. Cortisol secretion is regulated through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, where the hypothalamus secretes corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to secrete adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), which then stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete cortisol. When cortisol levels rise, it exerts negative feedback on the HPA axis, reducing CRH and ACTH secretion. Therefore, removal of the adrenal glands would lead to increased ACTH secretion by the adenohypophysis because there is no feedback inhibition by cortisol. However, the hypothalamus would also sense the absence of cortisol and reduce CRH secretion, which would partially counteract the increased ACTH secretion.

If the Adrenal Glands Were Removed from a Patient,his Plasma