THE ADRENAL BODIES 967 



glycosuria. In this case, therefore, the internal secretion of the pan- 

 creas acts as a chalone, because it checks the activities of the hepatic 

 cells. The weight of evidence, however, seems to lie with the first 

 theory which holds that this internal secretion facilitates the reduction 

 of the sugar by the tissues. Thus, it has been found by Clark that the 

 perfusion of the pancreas with solutions containing dextrose, causes 

 this substance to be changed into some form of polysaccharide. On 

 allowing this condensed dextrose to circulate through the tissues, it 

 undergoes a further change into a carbohydrate which is easily utilized 

 by these cells. Thus, it is claimed by Woody att^ that sugar exists 

 in the blood in some chemical combination which behaves like a 

 colloid. The substance which combines with dextrose to form this 

 compound, is closely related to the internal secretion of the pancreas. 

 The Internal Secretion of the Gastric and Intestinal Mucosa. — 

 In elaboration of the prelimihary experiments of CI. Bernard, 

 Popielski, Wertheim and Lepage, it was found by Bayliss and Starling 

 that the mucous membrane of the duodenum contains a hormone, 

 known as secretin, which is liberated whenever the reaction of the 

 adjoining medium is changed to acid. Upon its absorption by the 

 blood, this agent is carried to the pancreas, liver and intestine, where it 

 excites a flow of the corresponding secretions. A similar hormone, 

 called gastrin, has been isolated by Edkins from the mucous mem- 

 brane of the pylorus. It causes a secretion of gastric juice. 



CHAPTER LXXXII 



THE ADRENAL BODIES, HYPOPHYSIS, PINEAL GLAND, 

 TESTES AND OVARIES 



E. THE ADRENAL BODIES OR SUPRARENAL CAPSULES 



The Position and Structure of the Adrenals. ^ — These glands are 

 situated in the epigastric region, one on each side of the spine and in 

 the immediate vicinity of the upper pole of the kidney. They differ 

 somewhat in their size, shape and position. The right organ is affixed 

 to the inferior vena cava in close proximity to the orifice of the right 

 suprarenal vein, while the left organ lies in relation with the left 

 suprarenal vein, but does not come in actual contact with the cava.^ 

 Their arterial supply is derived from three sources, namely, from the 



^ Jour. Am. Med. Assoc, 1915. 



2 The suprarenal capsules were first recognized by Bartholomeus Eustachius 

 Sanctoseverinatus in 1563. An adequate description of them was given by Win- 

 slow in 1756. Their structural peculiarities have been dealt with by Meckel 

 (1806), Ecker (1846), Leydig (1851) and Kolliker (1854). ' 



^ Ferguson, Am. Jour, of Anatomy, v, 1905. 



