Following unilateral adrenalectomy, what is the expected status of adrenal function?

Following unilateral adrenalectomy, what is the expected status of adrenal function?

• A. No adrenal glands remaining
• B. One adrenal gland remains
• C. Both adrenal glands remaining
• D. Gland transplanted

Answer: (B)

Unilateral adrenalectomy leaves one adrenal gland to carry the workload. The remaining gland can continue to produce cortisol and mineralocorticoids, and it often undergoes compensatory growth to meet the body's needs. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can support this single gland by increasing stimulation as needed. So the expected status is that one adrenal gland remains functional. The other options describe scenarios that would require removing or transferring both glands, which is not the typical outcome of removing only one.

Unilateral adrenalectomy leaves one adrenal gland to carry the workload. The remaining gland can continue to produce cortisol and mineralocorticoids, and it often undergoes compensatory growth to meet the body's needs. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can support this single gland by increasing stimulation as needed. So the expected status is that one adrenal gland remains functional. The other options describe scenarios that would require removing or transferring both glands, which is not the typical outcome of removing only one.