In: Anatomy and Physiology
Dexamethasone is a drug used to suppress the secretion of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior pituitary. Two patients with hypersecretion of cortisol are given dexamethasone. Patient A’s cortisol secretion falls to normal as a result, but patient B’s cortisol secretion remains elevated. Draw maps of the reflex pathways for these two patients and use the maps to determine which patient has primary hypercortisolism. Explain your reasoning.