What is Adrenal Virilism? What causes this condition?

ADRENAL VIRILISM is a disorder in which a FEMALE develops MALE secondary sexual characteristics — growth of facial and body hair, a deepened voice and a masculine build.

It is caused by the HYPERSECRETION (excessive production) of ANDROGENS, the male sex hormones, from the ADRENAL CORTEX.

Two marks: what the condition IS, and what CAUSES it. Both halves are asked for, so give both.

The name explains itself: ADRENAL tells you the gland and VIRILISM comes from viril-, meaning male. Reading a disorder’s name apart is often quicker than recalling it.

The adrenal cortex normally secretes a SMALL quantity of androgens in both sexes; the disorder arises when that small quantity becomes large.

Keep the two parts of the adrenal gland separate, since they secrete quite different things: ADRENAL CORTEX (outer) — cortisol, aldosterone and androgens ADRENAL MEDULLA (inner) — adrenaline and noradrenaline, the emergency hormones