Addisons/Kidney connection?

[Shannon Nelson]

Can anyone shed light as to why Addisons (an disease of adrenal depletion, I
thought) is in the rep under "Kidney"? I realize that "adrenal" means
literally "near the kidney", and I also realize that the two glands are
considered to be interconnected according to the Chinese system. But what
do kidneys have to do with Addison's disease?

Thanks!
Shannon

[Robyn Foley]

Shannon, I think that Kidney is just a chapter heading in this case, and not meant to imply the involvement of the kidney in the disease process.
Where else would you put it? I suppose it could go in GENERALS.
Its a bit like I guess. The mesenteric gland is in the region known as the abdomen, and the adrenal gland is superior to the kidney and appears to be touching it, so the kidney is the closest landmark of relevance maybe.
In one Rep (Knerr) there is a chapter URINARY ORGANS which includes bladder, kidneys, ureters, urethra, and urination etc. Addison's is here under kidney as well.

Robyn

"Each progressive spirit is opposed by a thousand mediocre minds appointed to guard the past" (Maurice Maeterlinck)

[Shannon Nelson]

Thanks Robyn, that makes sense.
I had expected to find it under Abdomen (Liver is also there), and found it
only by accident under the Kidney heading; would *never* have thought to
look for it there! Ah well, live and learn!

Shannon

on 3/10/03 6:58 PM, Robyn Foley at folco@tpg.com.au wrote:

[Eleana Needham]

Shannon

Anatomically the adrenal glands are not "near the kidneys" but cover the
superior surface of the kidney. Therefore, in my opinion, the reason
Addisons is in the kidney section, could be argued, is the same reason why
the gallstones are under the liver section... major proximity! Usually, if
you think adrenals you think kidneys. Anyway, depends on the Rep too, e.g.
Addisons is under Diseases, as well as kidneys, in the Murphy rep.

Eleana