Final answer:
In cases of renal agenesis or ectopia, the adrenal glands will typically be normal in size because their development and function are independently regulated from that of the kidneys.
Step-by-step explanation:
Renal agenesis or ectopia refers to developmental anomalies where a kidney is either absent (agenesis) or located in an abnormal position (ectopia). Despite these anomalies in the kidneys, the adrenal glands, which are anatomically associated with the kidneys, are surprisingly resilient in terms of their anatomical integrity. In the context of renal agenesis or ectopia, the adrenal glands typically appear normal in size and function. This is because adrenal gland development and function are not dependent on the presence of the kidneys.
The adrenal glands consist of an outer adrenal cortex and an inner adrenal medulla, each of which produces different hormones essential for body functions. While it might be intuitive to think that the absence or ectopia of a kidney could affect the size or function of the adrenal glands, the development and maturation of the adrenals are independently regulated.
Hence, in patients with renal agenesis or ectopia, the adrenal glands typically remain unaffected in terms of their structure and size. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is c) Be normal in size.