Canadian Medical Guide > Anatomy > Endocrine System > Chromaffin System Terms and Definitions

Chromaffin System

Medical Definition:	The cells of the body which stain with chromium salts. They occur along the sympathetic nerves, in the adrenal gland, and in various other organs.
Guide Notes:	/cytol: consider also specific CHROMAFFIN SYSTEM cell indentions

Chromaffin System Categories.

	Chromaffin Cells - Cells that store epinephrine secretory vesicles. During times of stress, the nervous system signals the vesicles to secrete their hormonal content. Their name derives from their ability to stain a brownish color with chromic salts. Characteristically, they are located in the adrenal medulla and paraganglia (PARAGANGLIA, CHROMAFFIN) of the sympathetic nervous system.
	Chromaffin Granules - Granules in the adrenal glands and various other organs, which are concerned with the synthesis, storage, metabolism, and secretion of epinephrine and norepinephrine.
	Enterochromaffin-like Cells - Irregular-shaped argyrophilic cells which produce histamine, chromogranin A/pancreastatin, and an as yet unidentified peptide hormone. They are the predominant endocrine cell type of the oxyntic (acid-producing) mucosa of the stomach. ECL cells respond to gastrin by releasing their secretory products and this source of histamine acts as the positive paracrine stimulator of the release of hydrochloric acid from the parietal cell.
	Para-Aortic Bodies - Small masses of chromaffin cells found near the sympathetic ganglia along the abdominal aorta. They serve as chemoreceptors responsive to oxygen, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen ion concentration, and help to control respiration.
	Paraganglia, Chromaffin - Small bodies containing chromaffin cells occurring outside of the adrenal medulla, most commonly near the sympathetic ganglia and in organs such as the kidney, liver, heart and gonads.

Chromaffin System Medical Definitions and Terms

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