Part of “CHAPTER 89 – SURGERY OF THE ADRENAL GLANDS“

Each adrenal gland lies high within the retroperitoneum in a central location within the body, near the midline and at the junction of the chest and abdomen. Careful dissection must be carried out near the inferior vena cava, kidneys, diaphragm, liver, aorta, splenic vessels, spleen, stomach, and pancreas.

The normal gland is identified resting on the superior aspect of the kidney and is usually 3 to 5 cm long, 2 to 3 cm wide, 0.5 cm thick, and 3 to 6 g in weight. The right adrenal is triangular in shape and abuts the posterolateral surface of the inferior vena cava. The left adrenal gland lies close to the aorta and is more crescentic in shape. Each gland is surrounded by a fibrous capsule and embedded within areolar perirenal fat. The normal adrenal cortex is bright yellow, and the medulla appears reddish brown. On palpation of the suprarenal area, the adrenal gland can be distinctly recognized by its firm consistency.