THE SUPRARENALS 



Anatomy The suprarenal bodies are composed of two distinct 



renais SUpra " P afts ' the cortex and the medulla. The cortex is 

 derived from the epithelium in the region of the inter- 

 mediate cell-mass from which the germinal epithelium 

 of the gonads arises. The medulla is formed from 

 sympathetic nervous elements. Whether the union of 

 the two parts is fortuitous and their functions are 

 independent, or w'hether the conjunction indicates 

 functional interdependence is unknown. It is quite 

 certain, however, that the cortex, which has its origin 

 in proximity to the gonads, is functionally related there- 

 with. In the second part of this work evidence will be 

 adduced to show that the cortex of the suprarenal gland 

 is closely concerned in the production of the secondary 

 male characteristics. 



Hypertrophy In this connexion it is interesting to recall the 

 in 8 pr P egn r ancy! observations of Stilling 1 that the suprarenals of the 

 male rabbit hypertrophy in the breeding season; and 

 also the well-known fact that during pregnancy in 

 women when the suprarenals hypertrophy, as will be 

 mentioned directly, hair may appear on the face. 2 



In pregnancy certain changes occur normally in the 

 suprarenals. So far as my own observations go these 

 appear to be confined to the cortex : the cells of the 

 zona fasciculata appear swollen and cloudy. Some 

 observers (Guieysse 3 and Gottschau 4 ) have found that 

 in pregnancy the zona fasciculata increases in thickness 



1 Staling, EL, Archiv.f. Mikr. Anat., 1898, vol. lii, p, 176. 



2 Compare p, 166. 



3 Guieysse, M. A., Compt. Rend. Soc. BioL, 1899, vol. 1, p. 898. 



* Gottschau, M., Archiv. f. Anat. u. PhysioL, Anat. Abt., 1883, p. 412, 



