165. Intro to the Endocrine System

Question 1

Major glucocorticoid in humans

Stress response hormone

• physical
• psychological
• physiological

Regulates or supports a variety of important CV, metabolic, immunologic, and homeostatic functions including water balance

Answer 1

Cortisol

Question 2

Excessive LH/FSH secretion d/t tumor

No clinical syndrome. Present with mass effects or as incidental findings.

Answer 2

Gonadotroph adenoma

Question 3

Excessive TSH secretion

Weight loss, weakness, tremulousness, sleepless

Answer 3

Hyperthyroidism

Question 4

Posterior pituitary disease

Decreased ADH secretion

Causes failure of kidney to reabsorb water and therefore to concentrate urine with resultant increased urine volume and thirst

Answer 4

Diabetes insipidus

Question 5

Two hormones secreted by the posterior pituitary

Answer 5

Vasopressin (ADH)

Oxytocin

Question 6

Type of tumor that is commonly found in patients who are oversecreting calcitonin

Answer 6

Medullary thyroid cancer

Question 7

3 chemical classes of hormones

Answer 7

Polypeptides - water soluble (most common)

Steroids - lipid soluble

Amines

Question 8

Decrease in ACTH secretion

Fatigue, dizziness, weight loss

Answer 8

Adrenal insufficiency

Question 9

Pancreas
Thymus
Gonads
Hypothalamus

Answer 9

Endocrine cells in other organs

Question 10

Usually d/t a benign adenoma making excess hormones

Carcinomas are rare

Answer 10

Hormone Excess Syndrome

Question 11

Produce thyroglobulin, the precursor of thyroid hormone (thyroxine)

Answer 11

Follicle cells

Question 12

Major mineralocorticoid in humans

• secreted by adrenal cortex in response to a decline in either blood volume or BP
• Prompts distal and collecting tubules in kidney to reabsorb more sodium

Regulate sodium balance
- mainly supplied by the Renin-Angiotensin System but also a minor contribution form the adrenal glands

Answer 12

Aldosterone

Question 13

Decrease in prolactin secretion

Inability to lactate after delivery a baby

Answer 13

Prolactin deficiency

Question 14

Connected to the hypothalamus by hypothalamic-pituitary portal vessels
- share hormones

Produces 6 peptide hormones

• prolactin
• growth hormone
• TSH
• ACTH
• FSH
• LH

Answer 14

Anterior pituitary

Question 15

Decrease in GH secretion

Growth failure, fatigue, decreased muscle, increased fat, decreased bone, heart risk

Answer 15

GH Deficiency

Question 16

Part of autonomic nervous system

Secretes EPI and NE

Answer 16

Adrenal medulla

Question 17

Excessive prolactin secretion

Symptoms include galactorrhea, amenorrhea, infertility, decreased libido, ED

Answer 17

Prolactinoma

Question 18

Tumor in adrenal medulla that may oversecrete NE and EPI causing HTN

Answer 18

Pheochromocytoma

Question 19

Decrease in TSH secretion

Fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, sleepiness

Answer 19

Hypothyroidism

Question 20

Derived from cholesterol and differ only in the ring structure and side chains attached to it

Lipid soluble

Answer 20

Steroid hormones

Question 21

6 peptide hormones made by anterior pituitary

Answer 21

Prolactin

Growth hormone

TSH

ACTH

LH

FSH

Question 22

Increases blood calcium concentration

• stimulates osteoclasts to release more calcium from bone
• decreases excretion of calcium from kidneys
• activates Vit D which stimulates the uptake of calcium from the intestine

Answer 22

PTH

Question 23

Pituitary gland 
Pineal gland 
Thyroid gland 
Parathyroid gland 
Adrenal: 2 glands 
- cortex 
- medulla

Answer 23

Purely endocrine glands

Question 24

Excessive GH secretion

Gigantism, facial changes, enlarged hands and feet

Answer 24

Acromegaly

Question 25

Produce PTH in parathyroids

Answer 25

Chief cells

Question 26

Secretes lipid-based steroid hormones called corticosteroids

• mineralocorticoids - Aldosterone
• glucocorticoids - cortisol
• androgens

Answer 26

Adrenal cortex

Question 27

Can be d/t:

• Surgical removal of the gland
• Autoimmune destruction of a gland
• Congenital defects of glandular development
• Congenital mutations of the genes for the hormone or enzymes involved in hormone synthesis

Answer 27

Hormone Deficiency Syndromes

Question 28

Imbedded or behind in thyroid gland

Regulate blood calcium levels

Secrete PTH

Answer 28

Parathyroid glands

Question 29

Most common type of hormone

Often produced as larger molecular weight precursors that are proteolytically cleaved to the active form of the hormone

Water soluble

Answer 29

Peptide/protein hormones

Question 30

Excessive ACTH secretion

Centripetal obesity, purple stretch marks, think skin, bruising, diabetes, HTN

Answer 30

Cushing’s Disease

Question 31

2 hormones produced by thyroid gland

Answer 31

Thyroid hormone

Calcitonin

Question 32

Increases the basal metabolic rate

Affects many target cells throughout the body:

• protein synthesis
• bone growth
• neuronal maturation
• cell differentiation

Answer 32

Effects of thyroid hormone

Question 33

Posterior pituitary disease

Increased kidney water retention resulting in excessive dilution of blood solutes (hyponatremia) and even water intoxication

Answer 33

Increased vasopressin secretion

Question 34

Derived from the amino acid tyrosine

Thyroid hormones and catecholamines

Answer 34

Amine hormones

Question 35

Decrease in FSH/LH secretion

Amenorrhea, infertility, decreased libido, ED

Answer 35

Hypogonadism