RN Nursing · Adrenal Disorders · Practice question
Aldosterone is released from the adrenal cortex in response to what?
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Bradycardia
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✓
Hypovolemia
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Hypernatremia
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Low urine output
Answer & explanation
Correct: Hypovolemia
Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone secreted by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex, and its release is primarily triggered by hypovolemia. When blood volume decreases, reduced perfusion pressure at the juxtaglomerular apparatus of the kidney stimulates the release of renin. Renin converts angiotensinogen to angiotensin I, which is then converted to angiotensin II by angiotensin-converting enzyme. Angiotensin II potently stimulates the adrenal cortex to release aldosterone. Aldosterone then acts on the distal tubule and collecting duct of the nephron to promote sodium and water reabsorption while increasing potassium excretion, thereby restoring blood volume. Hyponatremia rather than hypernatremia triggers aldosterone release, since the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system responds to low sodium states and low volume. Bradycardia does not directly stimulate aldosterone secretion; it may reflect a compensatory response but is not a primary stimulus. Low urine output is more of a consequence of reduced perfusion rather than a direct stimulus for aldosterone release. Understanding the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone axis is foundational for interpreting conditions such as hypertension, heart failure, and adrenal disorders tested on the NCLEX.
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