Exploring Medical Terminology - Chapter 16 Endocrine System

hypothalamus

located superior to the pituitary gland in the brain. They hypothalamus secretes "releasing" hormones that function to stimulate or inhibit the release of pituitary gland hormones.

isthmus

narrow strip of tissue connecting two larger parts in the body, such as isthmus that connects the two lobes of the thyroid gland.

euglycemia

normal level of sugar in the blood

radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU)

nuclear medicine scan that measures thyroid function. Radioactive iodine is given to the patient orally, after which its uptake into the thyroid gland is measured.

thyroid scan

nuclear medicine these that show the size, shape and function of the thyroid gland. The patient is given a radioactive substance to visualize the thyroid gland. An image is recodes as the scanner is passed over the neck area; used to detect tumors and nodules.

adrenal glands or suprarenals

paired glands, one of which is located above each kidney. The outer portion is called the adrenal cortex and the inner portion is called the adrenal medulla. The following hormones are secreted by the adrenal glands: cortisol, aldosterone, epinephrine (adrenaline), norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

parathyroid/o

parathyroid glands

cortical

pertaining to the cortex

endocrinologist

physician who studies and treats diseases of the endocrine system

pituitar/o

pituitary gland

fasting blood sugar (FBS)

blood test to determine the amount of glucose in the blood after fasting for 8-10 hours. Elevation may indicate diabetes mellitus.

glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C)

blood test used to diagnose diabetes and motor its treatment by measuring the amount of glucose bound to hemoglobin in the blood. HbA1C provides an indication of blood sugar level over the past three months, covering the 120 day lifespan of the red blood cell. Also called hemoglobin A1C

calc/i

calcium

hormone

chemical substance secreted by an endocrine gland the is carried in the blood to a target tissue

hypercalcemia

excessive calcium in the blood

adrenocorticohyperplasia

excessive development of the adrenal cortex

hyperkalemia

excessive potassium in the blood

hyperglycemia

excessive sugar in the blood

adnectomy

excision of a gland

adrenalectomy

excision of one or both adrenal glands

parathyroidectomy

excision of one or more parathyroid glands.

thyroparathyroidectomy

excision of the thyroid and parathyroid glands

thyroidectomy

excision of the thyroid gland

acr/o

extremities, height

FBS

fasting blood sugar

parathyroid gland

four small bodies embedded in the posterior aspect of the lobes of the thyroid gland. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), the hormone produced by the glands helps maintain the level of calcium in the blood.

aden/o

glands

HbA1C

glycosylated hemoglobin

Cushing Syndrome

group of signs and symptoms attributed to the excessive production of cortisol by the adrenal cortices. This syndrome may be the result of a pituitary tumor or a primary adrenal cortex hyper secretion. Signs include abnormally pigmented skin, "moon face", pads of fat on the chest and abdomen, buffalo hum, wasting away of muscle and hypertension.

metabolic syndrome

group of signs and symptoms including metabolic resistance, obesity characterized by excessive fat around the waist and abdomen, hypertension, hyperglycemia, elevated triglycerides and low levels of the good cholesterol HDL. Risks include development of type 2 diabetes,coronary heart disease, or stroke (also called syndrome X and insulin resistance syndrome)

kal/i

potassium

anterior lobe or adenohypophysis

products and secrets the following hormones: GH, ACTH, TSH, GH, FSH, PRH, ADH and oxytocin

prolactin-releasing hormone (PRH) lactogenic hormone

promotes development of glandular tissue during pregnancy and produces milk after birth of infant.

RAIU

radioactive iodine uptake

follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) luteinzing hormone (LH)

regulate development, growth and function of the ovaries and testes.

growth hormone

regulates the growth of the body

euthyroid

resembling a normal thyroid gland.

corticoid

resembling the cortex

diabetes insipidus (DI)

result of decreased secretion of ADH by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Symptoms include excessive thirst (polydipsia), large amounts or urine (polyuria), and sodium being excreted from the body.

syndrome

run together (signs and symptoms occurring together that are characteristic of a specific disorder)

aldosterone

secreted by the adrenal cortex. Electrolytes (mineral salts) that are necessary for normal body function are regulated by this hormone.

cortisol

secreted by the adrenal cortex. It aids the body during stress by increasing glucose levels to provide energy (also called hydrocortisone)

epinephrine (adrenaline) norepinephrine (noradrenaline)

secreted by the adrenal medulla. These hormones help the body to deal with stress by increasing the blood pressure, heartbeat and respirations.

natr/o

sodium

hypopituitarism

state of deficient pituitary gland activity. (characterized by decreased secretion of one or more of the pituitary hormones, which can affect the function of the target endocrine gland; for example, hypothyroidism can result from decreased secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone by the pituitary gland)

hypothyroidism

state of deficient thyroid gland activity (characterized by decreased secretion of thyroid hormones. Signs and symptoms include fatigue, weight gain and cold intolerance)

hyperpituitarism

state of excessive pituitary gland activity (characterized by excessive secretion of pituitary hormones)

hyperthyroidism

state of excessive thyroid gland activity (characterized by excessive secretion of thyroid hormones). Signs and symptoms include weight loss, irritability, and heat intolerance.

panhypopituitarism

state of total deficient pituitary gland activity (characterized by decreased secretion of all the pituitary hormones; this is more serious condition than hypopituitarism in that it affects the function of all the other endocrine glands. )

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

stimulates the adrenal cortex

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

stimulates the kidney to reabsorb water

thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)

stimulates the thyroid gland.

oxytocin

stimulates uterine contractions during labor and postpartum.

posterior lobe or neurohypophysis

stores and releases ADH and oxytocin

endocrinology

study of the endocrine (system) a branch of medicine dealing with diseases of the endocrine system

glycemia

sugar in the blood

metabolism

sum total of all the chemical processes that are place in a living organism.

dips/o

thirst

thyr/o

thyroid gland

thyroid/o

thyroid gland

TSH

thyroid stimulating hormone

T4

thyroxine level

parathyroidoma

tumor of a parathyroid gland

pheochromocytoma

tumor of the adrenal medulla, which is usually non-malignant and characterized by hyper-tension, headaches, palpitations, diaphoresis, chest pain, and abdominal pain. Surgical removal of the tumor is the most common treatment. Though usually curable with early detection it can be fatal if left untreated.

adenosis

abnormal condition of a gland.

expothalmos

abnormal protrusion of the eyeball

polydipsia

abnormal state of much thirst

adren/o

adrenal glands

adrenal/o

adrenal glands

gonadotropic hormones

affect the male and female reproductive systems

endocrinopathy

any disease of the endocrine system

pituitary gland or hypophysis cerebri

approximately the size of a pea and located at the base of the brain. The pituitary is died into two lobes. It is often referred to as the master gland because it produces the someone that stimulate function of other endocrine glands.

thyroxine level (T4)

blood test that gives the direct measurement of the amount of thyroxine in the patient's blood. A greater than normal amount indicates hyperthyroidism; a less than normal amount indicates hypothyroidism.

thyroid-stimulating hormone level (TSH)

blood test that measures the amount of thyroid stimulating hormone in the blood; used to diagnose hypothyroidism and to monitor patients on thyroid replacement therapy

diabetes mellitus (DM)

chronic diseases involving a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by under activity of the islets of Langerhans and characterized by elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia). DM can cause chronic renal disease, retinopathy and neuropathy. In extreme cases the patient may develop ketosis, acidosis, and finally coma.

Addison Disease

chronic syndrome resulting from a deficiency in the hormonal secretion of the adrenal cortex. Sings and symptoms may include weakness, parenting of skin, loss of appetite, depression and other emotional problems.

islets of Langerhans

clusters of endocrine tissue found throughout the pancreas, made of up different cell types that secrete various hormones, including insulin and glucagon. Non-endocrine cells found throughout the pancreas produce enzymes that facilitate digestion.

tetany

condition affecting nerves causing muscle spasms as a result of low amounts of calcium in the blood caused by a deficiency of the parathyroid hormone.

acidosis

condition brought about by an abnormal accumulation of acid products of metabolism such as seen in uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

gigantism

condition brought about the hypersecretion of GH by the pituitary gland before puberty.

congenital hypothyroidism

condition caused by congenital absence or atrophy (wasting away) of the thyroid gland, resulting in hypothyroidism. The disease is characterized by puffy features, mental deficiency, large tongue, and dwarfism (formerly called cretinism)

thyrotoxicosis

condition caused by excessive thyroid hormones

myxedema

condition resulting from a deficiency of the thyroid hormone thyroxine; a severe form of hypothyroidism in an adult. Signs include puffiness of the face and hands, coarse and thickened skin, enlarges tongue, slow speech and anemia.

ketosis

condition resulting from uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, in which the body has an abnormal concentration of ketone bodies resulting from excessive fat metabolism called ketoacidosis if acids accumulate in the blood and tissue as well)

cortic/o

cortex (outer layer of a body organ)

hypocalcemia

deficient calcium in the blood

hypokalmeia

deficient potassium in the blood.

hyponatremia

deficient sodium in the blood

hypoglycemia

deficient sugar in the blood

DI

diabetes insipidus

DM

diabetes mellitus

adrenopathy

disease of the adrenal gland

Graves disease

disorder of the thyroid gland characterized by the presences of hyperthyroidism causing the production of more thyroid hormone than the body needs, goiter, and exophthalmos (abnormal protrusion of the eyeballs)

endocrin/o

endocrine

adrenomegaly

enlargement (of one or both) adrenal glands.

adenomegaly

enlargement of a gland

acromegaly

enlargement of the extremities (and bones of the face, hands, and feet caused by excessive production of the growth hormone by the pituitary gland after puberty.

goiter

enlargement of the thyroid gland

thyroidotomy

incision of a thyroid gland

adenitis

inflammation of a gland.

adrenalitis

inflammation of the adrenal glands.

thyroiditis

inflammation of the thyroid gland.

thyroid gland

larges endocrine gland. It is located anteriorly in the neck below the larynx and comprises bilateral lobes connected by an isthmus. The thyroid gland secretes the hormones T3 and T4 which require iodine for their production. Thyroxine (t4) is necessary for body cell metabolism.

thyroid sonography

ultrasound test of the thyroid gland used to indicate whether a thyroid nodule is likely benign or possibly malignant; also used to monitor and evaluate structure.