Chapter 13: Endocrine System Flashcards
Anorexia
A lack of appetite
An-
Without
Orex/o
Appetite
Paresthesia
Abnormal secretion
Glucosuria
Presence of sugar (glucose) in the urine
Ketoacidosis
Excessive amounts of ketone acids in the bloodstream
Ketonuria
Presence of ketones in the urine
Acromegaly
A chronic condition characterized ny gradual, noticeable enlargement and elongation of the bones of the face, jaw, and extremities due to oversection of the pituitary gland after puberty
Acr/o
Extremities
-Megaly
Enlargement
Adenohypophysis
The anterior pituitary gland
Adenoma
A glandular tumor
Aden/o
Gland
-Oma
Tumor
Adenopathy
Any disease of a gland, characterized by enlargement
-Pathy
Disease
Adrenalectomy
Surgical removal of one or both of the adrenal glands
Adren/o
Adrenal gland
-Ectomy
Surgical removal
Adrenalitis
Inflammation of the adrenal glands
Adrenal/o
Adrenal gland
Adrenocortical
Pertaining to the cortex of the adrenal glands
Cortic/o
Cortex
-Al
Pertaining to
Aldosterone
A hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that regulates sodium and potassium balance in the blood
Androgen
Any steroid hormone that increases male characteristics
Antidiuretic
Pertaining to the suppression of urine production; any agent given to suppress the production of urine
Anti-
Against
Di/a
Through
Ur/o
Urine
-etic
Pertaining to
Cortex
Pertaining to the outer region of an organ or structure
Cortisol
A stored hormone occurring naturally in the blood
Hydrocortisone
Cretinism
A congenital condition (one that occurs at birth) caused by a lack of thyroid secretion
Characterized by dwarfism, slowed mental development, putty facial features, dry skin, and large tongue
Diabetes, gestational
A condition occurring in pregnancy characterized by the signs and symptoms of diabetes mellitus
Symptoms usually disappear after pregnancy
Diabetes insipidus
A metabolic disorder characterized by extreme polydipsia and polyuria
Disorder of the pituitary gland due to a deficiency in secretion of the antidiuretic hormone
Diabetes mellitus
A disorder of the pancreas in which the beta cells of the islets of langerhans of the pancreas fail to produce an adequate amount of insulin, resulting in the body’s inability to metabolize carbohydrates, fats, and proteins appropriately
Diabetes ketoacidosis
A dangerous condition that occurs as result of severe lack of insulin, causing the body to break down fats instead of glucose for energy
Dwarfism
A condition in which there is an abnormal underdevelopment of the body
Characterized by extremely short height and is usually caused by undersecretion of the pituitary gland (growth hormone)
Endocrine gland
A ductless gland that produces a chemical substance called a hormone, which is secreted directly into the bloodstream instead of exiting the body through ducts
Endo-
Within
-Crene
Secrete
Endocrinologist
A physician who specializes in the medical practice of treating the disease and disorders of the endocrine System
-Logist
One who specializes in the study of
Endocrinology
The field of medicine that duals with the study of the endocrine system and of the treatment of the diseases and disorders of the endocrine system
-Logy
The study of
Epinephrine
A hormone produced by the adrenal medulla
Plays an important role in the body’s response to stress by increasing the heart rate, dilating the bronchioles, and releasing glucose into the bloodstream
Estrogen
One of the female hormones that promotes the development of female secondary sex characteristics
Euthyroid
Pertaining to a normally functioning thyroid gland
Exocrine gland
A gland that opens onto the surface of the skin through ducts in the epithelium, such as oil glands or a sweat gland
Exophthalmia
An abnormal condition characterized by a marked outward protrusion of the eyeballs
Ex-
Outward
Ophthalm/o
Eye
-ia
Condition
Gigantism
An abnormal condition characterized by excessive size and height
Usually due to an oversecretion of the pituitary gland (growth hormone)
Glucagon
A hormone secreted by the islets of langerhans of the pancreas that stimulates the liver to convert glycogen into glucose
Glycogenesis
The formation of glycogen from fatty acids and proteins instead of from carbohydrates
Glucose
The simplest form of sugar in the body
Simple sugar found in certain foods, especially fruits
Major source of energy for the human body
Glycogenesis
The conversion excess glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver for later use as needed
Glyc/o
Sugar, sweet
-Genesis
Production of
Formation
Glycosuria
The presence of sugar in the urine
Glycos/o
Sugar, sweet
-Uria
Urine condition
Goiter
Enlargement of the thyroid gland due to excessive growth (hyperplasia)
Gonads
A term used to refer to the female sex glands (ovaries) and the male sex glands (testes)
Grave’s disease
Hyperthyroidism
Growth hormone
Somatotropic hormone
Gynecomastia
An abnormal enlargement of the breasts in men
May involve one or both
Gynec/o
Women
Mast/o
Breast
Hirsutism
A condition in which there is excessive body hair in a male distribution pattern
Hypercalcemia
Elevated blood calcium levels
Hyperglycemia
Elevated blood sugar levels
Hyper-
Excessive
Calc/o
Calcium
- emia
Blood condition
Hypergonadism
Excessive activity of the ovaries or testes
Hyperinsulinism
An excessive amount of insulin in the body
Hyperkalemia
An elevated blood potassium levels
Kal/i
Potassium
Hypernatremia
An elevated blood sodium level
Natr/i
Sodium
Hyperparathyroidism
Hyperactivity of any of the four parathyroid glands, resulting in an oversecretion of the parathyroid hormones
Parathyroid/o
Parathyroid glands
Hyperpituitarism
Overactivity of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland
Hyperthyroidism
Overactivity of the thyroid gland
Grave’s disease
Hypocalcemia
Less than normal blood calcium level
Hypo-
Under, below, beneath, less than normal
Hypoglycemia
Less than normal blood sugar level
Hypokalemia
Less than normal blood potassium level
Hyponatremia
Less than normal blood sodium level
Hypophysectomy
Surgical removal of the pituitary gland
Hypothyroidism
Less than normal activity of the thyroid gland
Thyroid/o
Thyroid gland
Insulin shock
A state of shock due to extremely low blood sugar level caused by an overdose of insulin, a decreased intake of food, or excessive exercise by a patient who is diabetic and insulin dependent
Severe hypoglycemia is a medical emergency
Medulla
The internal part of the structure or organ
Metabolism
The sum of all physical and chemical processes that take place within the body
Myxedema
Most severe form is in an adult
Characterized by puffiness of the hands and face; coarse, thickened edematous skin; an enlargement of the tongue; slow speech; loss of and dryness of the hair;sensitivity to cold; drowsiness; and mental apathy
Norepinephrine
A hormone produced by the adrenal medulla
Plays in the important role in the body’s response to stress by raising the blood pressure
Oxytocin
A hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland
Stimulates the contractions of the uterus during childbirth and stimulates the release of milk from the breasts of lactating women (women who breastfeed) in response to the suckling reflex of the infant
Oxy-
Rapid, Sharp
Toc/o
Child birth
-in
Enzyme
Polydipsia
Excessive thirst
Poly-
Many, much excessive
- dipsa
Thirst
Polyphagia
Excessive eating
-Phagia
Eating condition
Polyuria
The excretion of excessively large amounts of urine
Progesterone
A female hormone secreted by the ovaries
Primarily responsible for the changes that occur in the endometrium in anticipation of a fertilized ovum and for development of the maternal placenta after implantation of a fertilized ovum
Somatotropic hormone
A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that regulates the cellular processes necessary for normal body growth
Growth hormone
Syndrome
A group of symptoms occurring together, indicative of a particular disease or abnormality
Syn-
Joined together
-Drome
That which runs together
T-cells
Specialized lymphocytes that are involved in the immune response
Tetany
A condition characterized by severe cramping and twitching of the muscles and sharp flexion of the wrist and ankle joints
Complication of hypocalcemia
Thymopoietin
A hormone secreted by the thymus, thought to stimulate the production of t-cells (which are involved in the immune response)
Thymosin
A hormone secreted by the thymus
Thought to stimulate the production of specialized lymphocytes, called t-cells, which are involved in the immune response
Thyroiditis
Inflammation of the thyroid gland
Thyroxine
A hormone secreted by the thyroid gland
Helps maintain normal body metabolism (abbreviated as t4)
Triiodothyronine
A hormone secreted by the thyroid gland
Helps regulate growth and development of the body and control metabolism and body temperature (abbreviated as t3)
virilism
The development of masculine physical traits in the female
Masculinization
May be due to an abnormality or dysfunction of the adrenal gland
Hypopituitarism
A complex syndrome resulting from the absence or deficiency of the pituitary hormone
Cancer, thyroid gland
Malignant tumor of the thyroid gland, which leads to dysfunction of the gland and thus inadequate or excessive secretion of the thyroid hormone
Thyroiditis, chronic
Chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland, leading to enlargement of the thyroid gland
Thyrotoxicosis (thyroid storm)
An acute, sometimes fatal, incident of overactivity of the thyroid gland resulting in excessive secretion of thyroid hormone
Addison’s disease
A life-threating disease process due to failure of the adrenal vortex to secrete adequate mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids resulting from an autoimmune process, a neoplasm, an infection, or a hemorrhage in the gland
Conn’s disease (primary aldosteronism)
A condition characterized by excretion of excessive amounts of aldosterone, the most influential of the mineralcorticoids, which causes the body to retain extra sodium and excrete extra potassium, leading to an increased volume of blood (hypervolemia) and hypertension
Cushing’s syndrome
A condition of the adrenal gland in which a cluster of symptoms occur as a result of an excessive amount of cortisol or ACTH circulating in the blood
Pheochromocytoma
A vascular tumor of the adrenal medulla that produces extra epinephrine and norepinephrine, leading to persistent or intermittent hypertension and heart palpitations
Pancreatic cancer
A life-threatening primary malignant neoplasm typically found in the head of the pancreas
Pancreatitis
An acute or chronic destructive inflammatory condition of the pancreas
Fasting blood sugar (FBS)
Blood glucose sample usually taken early in the morning after the person has been without food or drink since midnight
Glucose tolerance test (GTT)
A test that evaluates the person’s ability to tolerate concentrated oral glucose load by measuring the glucose levels
-ose
Carbohydrate
Hemoglobin A1c test (HbA1c)
Blood test that shows the average level of glucose in an individual’s blood during the past 3 months
A small sample of blood is collected from a vein (usually an arm vein) and is sent to the lab for analysis
Radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) test
A thyroid function test that evaluates the function of the thyroid gland by administering a known amount of radioactive iodine and later placing a gamma ray detector over the thyroid gland to determine the percentage or quantity of radioactive iodine absorbed by the gland over specific time periods
Used in the diagnosis of thyroid problems, particularly hyperthyroidism
Serum glucose test
Measures the amount of glucose in the blood at the time the sample was drawn
Thyroid echogram
An ultrasound examination important in distinguishing solid thyroid nodules from cystic nodules
Thyroid function tests
Laboratory tests that measure the blood levels of the t3,t4, and TSH hormones
Indicate how well the thyroid gland is working
Thyroid panel
A laboratory blood test that produces an enhanced thyroid profile
Thyroid scan
A test that determines the position, size, shape, and physiological function of the thyroid gland through the use of radionuclear scanning
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) blood test
Measures the concentration of TSH in the blood
