CH 15

Cushing syndrome

(CUSH-ing SIN-drome) condition resulting from hyper secretion of adrenal cortex; may be product of adrenal gland tumor; symptoms include weakness, edema, excess hair growth, skin discoloration, and osteoporosis > But this syndrome is also caused by taking corticosteroid drugs over a long period of time. One such drug is Prednisone. Patients develop fat accumulation, with a moon-shaped face, a hump on the upper back, and weight gain, especially in the abdomen.

dwarfism

(DWARF-izm) condition of being abnormally small

endocrine system

(EN-doh-krin) the body system that consists of glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream; >the endocrine glands include the adrenal glands, parathyroid glands, pancreas, pituitary gland, testes, ovaries, thymus gland, and thyroid gland

estrogen

(ESS-troh-jen) one of the hormones produced by the ovaries; works with progesterone to control the menstrual cycle and it is responsible for producing the secondary sexual characteristics

fasting blood sugar (FBS)

(FBS) blood test to measure the amount of sugar circulating throughout the body after a 12-hour fast

glucagon

(GLOO-kah-gahn) a hormone secreted by the pancreas; stimulates the liver to release glucose into the blood

glucose tolerance test (GTT)

(GLOO-kohs) (GTT) test for initial diagnosis of diabetes mellitus; patient is given dose of glucose; then blood samples are taken at regular intervals to determine patient's ability to use glucose properly

glucose

(GLOO-kohs) the form of sugar used by the cells of the body to make energy

goiter

(GOY-ter) enlargement of the thyroid gland

hyperglycemia

(HIGH-per-gly-SEE-mee-ah) having an excessive amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood

hyperpituitarism

(HIGH-per-pih-TOO-ih-tuh-rizm) state of excessive pituitary gland

hypoglycemia

(HIGH-poh-gly-SEE-mee-ah) condition of having a low sugar level in the blood

hypoparathyroidism

(HIGH-poh-pair-ah-THIGH-royd-izm) state of insufficient thyroid

hypopituitarism

(HIGH-poh-pih-TOO-ih-tuh-rizm) state of insufficient pituitary gland

hormones

(HOR-mohnz) a chemical substance secreted by an endocrine gland; enters the bloodstream and is carried to target tissue; work to control the functioning of the target tissue

insulin

(IN-suh-lin) the hormone secreted by the pancreas; regulates the level of sugar in the bloodstream; the more insulin present in the blood, the lower the blood sugar will be >Without insulin, the body must burn fat which produces toxic substances and makes a person ill. Without insulin, high blood sugar levels destroy kidney nephrons and affect the arteries and nerves in the legs. We need insulin. If the body can't make it, or can't make enough, it must be taken as an injection.

gigantism

(JYE-gan-tizm) excessive development of the body due to the overproduction of the growth hormone by the pituitary gland

ovaries

(OH-vah-reez) main female reproductive organ; located on either side of the lower abdominopelvic region; responsible for the production of ova and the hormones estrogen and progesterone

~orchiopexy

(OR-kee-oh-PECK-see) surgical fixation of a testis

polydipsia

(PAH-lee-DIP-see-ah) condition of having an excessive amount of thirst

polyuria

(PAH-lee-YOO-ree-ah) condition of having excessive urine production

pancreatectomy

(PAN-kree-ah-TEK-toh-mee) surgical removal of the pancreas

pancreatitis

(PAN-kree-ah-TYE-tis) inflammation of the pancreas

pancreas

(PAN-kree-as) organ in the digestive system that produces digestive enzymes; also a gland in the endocrine system that produces two hormones, insulin and glucagon

pineal gland

(PIH-nee-al) a gland in the endocrine system that produces a hormone called melatonin

pinealectomy

(PIN-ee-al-EK-toh-mee) surgical removal of the pineal gland

radioimmunoassay (RIA)

(RAY-dee-oh-im-YOO-noh-ASS-ay) test used to measure the levels of hormones in the plasma of the blood

scrotum

(SKROH-tum) a sac containing the testes suspending them outside the body between the legs and behind the penis

testes

(TESS-teez) the male sex; oval-shaped organs located in the scrotum that produce sperm and the male hormone, testosterone; singluar is testis; also called testicles

tetany

(TET-ah-nee) a condition that results from a calcium deficiency in the blood; it is characterized by muscle twitches, cramps, and spasms

thymic

(THIGH-mik) pertaining to the thymus gland

thymosin

(THIGH-moh-sin) hormone secreted by thymus gland; important hormone for development of immune system >stimulates the important T lymphocytes to develop and mature into cells that destroy viruses.

thymus gland

(THIGH-mus) an endocrine gland located in the upper mediastinum that assists the body by secreting thymosin which is important for development of the immune system >sits behind the sternum and produces the hormone thymosin

thyroid function test (TFT)

(THIGH-royd) blood tests used to measure the levels of T3, T4, and TSH in the bloodstream to assist in determining thyroid function

thyroid gland

(THIGH-royd) located in neck; has two lobes on either side of trachea; secretes thyroxine and triiodothyronine which regulate body's metabolic rate; also secretes calcitonin to lower blood calcium levels

thyroid scan

(THIGH-royd) test in which a radioactive element is administered that localizes in the thyroid gland

adrenal virilism

(ad-REE-nal VIR-ill-izm) development of male secondary sexual characteristics (such as deeper voice and facial hair) in a female; often as a result of increased androgen secretion by the adrenal cortex

adrenal feminization

(ad-REE-nal fem-ih-NIGH-ZAY-shun) development of female secondary sexual characteristics (such as breasts) in a male; often as a result of increased estrogen secretion by the adrenal cortex

adrenal glands

(ad-REE-nal) a pair of glands in the endocrine system located just above each kidney; divided into outer adrenal cortex and inner adrenal medulla; adrenal cortex secretes aldosterone to regulate sodium levels in the body, cortisol to regulate carbohydrate metabolism, and sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone; adrenal medulla secretes epinephrine (also called adrenaline) to help the body respond to emergency situations

adrenomegaly

(ad-REE-noh-MEG-ah-lee) enlarged adrenal gland

adrenalectomy

(ad-ree-nal-EK-toh-mee) surgical removal of the adrenal gland

adrenalitis

(ad-ree-nal-EYE-tis) inflammation of adrenal gland

adrenalopathy

(ad-ree-nal-OP-ah-thee) adrenal gland disease

adenoma

(add-eh-NO-ma) gland tumor

~acromegaly

(ak-roh-MEG-ah-lee) chronic disease of adults that results in an elongation and enlargement of the bones of the head and extremities >hypersecretion occurs in adulthood, the result is a disorder called acromegaly. >The cause is the same, an adenoma. The long bones cannot grow longer after the growth plates seal, about age 20, so only the facial bones, jaw, and hands and feet get larger.

aldosterone

(al-DOSS-ter-ohn) a hormone produced by the adrenal cortex; regulates the levels of sodium and potassium in the body and as a side effect the volume of water lost in urine

antidiuretic hormone

(an-tih-dye-yoo-RET-ik) hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary; it promotes water reabsorption by the kidney tubules

corticosteroids

(core-tih-koh-STARE-oyds) general term for the group of hormones secreted by the adrenal contex; > includes mineralocorticoid hormones, glucocorticoid hormones, and steroid sex hormones; used as a medication for its strong anti-inflammatory properties

insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM)

(dye-ah-BEE-teez MELL-ih-tus) (IDDM) also called type 1 diabetes mellitus; it develops early in life when the pancreas stops insulin production

~diabetes mellitus (DM)

(dye-ah-BEE-teez MELL-ih-tus) a serious disease in which the pancreas fails to produce insulin or the insulin does not work properly; patient has very high blood sugar >sugar metabolism.

noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)

(dye-ah-BEE-teez MELL-ih-tus) also called type 2 diabetes mellitus, develops later in life when the pancreas produces insufficient insulin; persons may take oral hypoglycemics to stimulate insulin secretion, or may eventually have to take insulin

diabetes insipidus (DI)

(dye-ah-BEE-teez in-SIP-ih-dus) disorder caused by the inadequate secretion of a hormone by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland; there may be polyuria and polydipsia

exophthalmos

(eks-off-THAL-mus) condition in which the eyeballs protrude, such as in Grave's disease

endocrinology

(en-doh-krin-AL-oh-jee) the branch of medicine specializing in conditions of the endocrine system

endocrinopathy

(en-doh-krin-OP-ah-thee) a disease of the endocrine system

epinephrine

(ep-ih-NEF-rin) a hormone produced by the adrenal medulla; also known as adrenaline; some of its actions include increased heart rate and force of contraction, bronchodilation, and relaxation of intestinal muscles

pheochromocytoma

(fee-oh-KROH-moh-sigh-TOH-ma) usually benign tumor of the adrenal medulla that secretes epinephrine; symptoms include anxiety, heart palpitations, dyspnea, profuse sweating, headache, and nausea

~glycosuria

(glye-kohs-YOO-ree-ah) presence of an excess of sugar in the urine

Hashimoto disease

(hash-ee-MOH-toe) chronic form of thyroiditis, named for a Japanese surgeon

hypothyroidism

(high-poh-THIGH-roy-dizm) state of insufficient thyroid secretion

melatonin

(mel-ah-TOH-nin) hormone secreted by the pineal gland; plays a role in regulating the body's circadian rhythm

myxedema

(miks-eh-DEE-mah) condition resulting from a hypofunction of the thyroid gland; symptoms can include anemia, slow speech, enlarged tongue and facial features, edematous skin, drowsiness, and mental apathy

oophorectomy

(oh-off-oh-REK-toh-mee) surgical removal of an ovary

oophoritis

(oh-off-oh-RIGH-tis) inflammation of an ovary

orchiectomy

(or-kee-EK-toh-mee) surgical removal of the testes

parathyroid glands

(pair-ah-THIGH-royd) four small glands located on the back surface of the thyroid gland; parathyroid hormone secreted by these glands regulates the amount of calcium in the blood >four >two on each side, on the back of the thyroid gland. They are very small, but very important. They cause calcium to be pulled from the bones to maintain a normal calcium level in the blood. This can be a problem when a person does not eat enough calcium-rich foods. Bones can become weak and a fetus may not get sufficient calcium to form strong teeth.

parathyroidectomy

(pair-ah-thigh-royd-EK-toh-mee) surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands

pituitary gland

(pih-TOO-ih-tair-ee) small marble-shaped gland that hangs down from the underside of brain >often referred to as the master gland because some of its hormones regulate other endocrine glands; > divided into anterior lobe and posterior lobe; >anterior lobe secretes growth hormone (stimulates body to grow larger), thyroid-stimulating hormone (regulates activity of thyroid gland), adrenocorticotropin hormone (regulates activity of adrenal cortex), prolactin (stimulates milk production by breast), melanocytestimulating hormone (stimulates melanocytes to produce more melanin), and follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone (work together to regulate activity of ovary or testes); > posterior lobe secretes antidiuretic hormone (regulates volume of water in body) and oxytocin (stimulates uterine contractions during labor and delivery) >a small pea-like structure in the center of the brain that produces seven different hormones and sends out two more. These hormones go to many different parts of the body to stimulate the organs. Some organs are then stimulated to produce their own hormones.

testosterone

(tess-TOSS-ter-own) male hormone produced in the testes; responsible for the growth and development of the male reproductive organs

thymectomy

(thigh-MEK-toh-mee) surgical removal of the thymus gland

thymoma

(thigh-MOH-mah) malignant tumor of the thymus gland

thymitis

(thigh-MY-tis) inflammation of the thymus gland

thyromegaly

(thigh-roh-MEG-ah-lee) enlarged thyroid gland

thyrotoxicosis

(thigh-roh-toks-ih-KOH-sis) condition that results from overproduction of the thyroid glands; symptoms include a rapid heart action, tremors, enlarged thyroid gland, exophthalmos, and weight loss

thyroidectomy

(thigh-royd-EK-toh-mee) surgical removal of the thyroid gland`

hyperthyroidism

Graves' disease

~Cushing syndrome results​ from: A. oversecretion of the adrenal cortex.

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hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

artificial replacement of hormones in a patient who is unable to produce sufficient hormones; example is estrogen replacement in menopausal women

blood serum test

blood test to measure the level of substances such as calcium, electrolytes, testosterone, insulin, and glucose; used to assist in determining the function of various endocrine glands

adenocarcinoma

cancerous tumor in a gland

Graves' disease

condition results in over activity of the thyroid gland and can result in a crisis situation. Also called hyperthyroidism >exophthalmos >Symptoms are a goiter, exophthalmos, tremors, nervousness, and weight gain.

~Cretinism

deficient thyroid hormones.

endocrine gland;

hormones (HOR-mohnz) a chemical substance secreted by an endocrine gland; enters the bloodstream and is carried to target tissue; work to control the functioning of the target tissue

thyroiditis

inflammation OF THYROID

~pituitary

master

thyroid hormones

regulate what is known as your basal metabolic rate, or the speed at which food is burned for energy.

ovariorrhexis

rupture

radioactive iodine uptake RAIU

test of thyroid function that measures how much radioactively tagged iodine is removed from the bloodstream by the thyroid gland The radioactive form of iodine is taken up by the thyroid gland in the same way as regular iodine. A probe is used to determine how much radioactive iodine is taken into the thyroid.

glands

the organs of the body that release secretions; exocrine glands, like sweat glands, release their secretions into ducts; endocrine glands, such as the thyroid gland, release their hormones directly into the bloodstream

target organs

the organs that hormones act on to either increase or decrease the organ's activity level >adrenal glands, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, pineal gland, pituitary gland, thymus, pancreas, and ovaries and testes.

endocrinologist

who diagnoses and treats medical problems of the endocrine glands. Outside of tumors, glands usually have problems related to hypersecretion or hyposecretion of hormones.