What's Wrong with Timothy? - A Case Study on the Endocrine System

(PART III : SYMPTOMS RETURN) Why could a tumor on the pituitary gland affect the thyroid gland and also Tim's levels of testosterone?

A tumor on the pituitary gland would affect the thyroid gland because the pituitary controls all other glands, including the thyroid. The thyroid affects the luteinizing hormone (LH), which regulates testosterone in men.

(PART II : THE TEST RESULTS) A.) Which hormones would be considered in the high range? a1.) What gland produces these hormones? B.) Which hormones would be considered low? b1.) What gland produces these hormones?

A.) T3 and T4 a1.) Thyroid B.) TSH b.) Pituitary gland

Dr. Chapman suggested that Tim take a regimen of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG), which is analogous to Luteinizing Hormone (LH) which is produced by the pituitary. Why would he recommend this? What problem could this potentially solve for Tim?

He would recommend taking LH because it'll increase his testosterone levels. With the tumor gone, he'll have a higher chance at conceiving, growing hair, etc.

(PART 1 : AS A TEENAGER...) List Tim's symptoms and identify the organ system (or specific organ) associated with those symptoms. (You may need to reference other materials to identify associated organs and systems).

Poor coordination: Nervous, Brain Stomach aches: Digestive Rapid growth; joint pain: Skeletal Low metabolism: Endocrine, Thyroid

The doctor also decides to check on Timothy's cortisol levels. What gland(s) produce cortisol?

The adrenal glands, which produce cortisol by the stimulation of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH).

Where is the thyroid? Why did the doctor want to focus on the thyroid?

The thyroid is at the bottom of the neck. The doctor wanted to focus on it because is is often associated with metabolism.

The pituitary gland is called the "master gland." What other endocrine glands would have been affected by its malfunction?

Thyroid & parathyroid, adrenals, thymus, pancreas, testes.

Do you think the original diagnosis was wrong? Why or why not?

Your own opinion. I said that I didn't think so-- the og diagnosis was right and medication solved it; the tumor in the pituitary gland probably appeared afterward.

The doctor didn't mention cortisol, but it should also follow a similar feedback loop. Sketch a feedback loop that includes the hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal glands, and cortisol

Your sketch