Surgical anatomy and embryology of the adrenal glands

From an anatomic point of view, the adrenal glands are similar by their morphology: and dorsal relations, but are different in their vascularization and medial relations, which explains the reason for a variety of surgical approaches. The adrenal glands comprise two embryologically and physiologically distinct parts, the cortex and medulla, which are the origin of tumors that secrete steroid hormones or catecholamines. The surgical strategy for an adrenalectomy considers the type of disease, morphology of the body, and the volume and vascular relations of the tumor.