Adrenal Growth Facts
The adrenal gland is responsible for vital bodily functions, like how you respond to stress. Not one, but two glands, grow as we age but if they're bigger than they should be that can signal a problem. The things that can go wrong with these glands that we rarely think about are numerous.
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Basics
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One adrenal gland is located above each of your kidneys. The glands are yellowish in color and shaped like a triangle, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons.
Size
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The average size of an adult adrenal gland is 4 to 6 cm long and not more than 0.6 cm thick, according to Oregon Health & Science University. The adult adrenal gland has been compared to the size of a walnut or a thumb; however, at birth the glands are no more than 3.6 cm long and can be less than 1 cm. in length.
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Discrepancy
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Even in normal adrenal glands, there can be discrepancies between the left and right glands that don't appear to have an adverse impact on your health. St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London made this finding while studying 55 healthy patients. They found that, for example, the average left adrenal gland was .79 mm wide, while the average right adrenal gland was .61 mm wide.
Enlargement
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These glands can grow too big, which can be a sign that the gland is making too many hormones, according to the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons. Usually, the bigger the gland, the higher the chance that the growth is malignant. Size often directly correlates with the dangers associated with these growths.
Atrophy
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Conversely, the gland can actually grow too small. In some cases, the adrenal glands can shrink in half, according to researchers with St. James's Hospital in Ireland. They studied patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and found that their adrenal glands had atrophied. Fatigue, the sluggish production of hormones like cortisol and adrenal shrinkage have all been linked.
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