Chapter 13 The Endocrine System Medical Terms Flashcards
enlargement of the extremities caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone after puberty
acromegaly
a condition that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone
Addison’s disease
inflammation of the adrenal glands
adrenalitis
an abnormality of electrolyte balance caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone
aldosteronism
a medication administered to slow the ability of the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones
antithyroid drug
a disorder of the adrenal glands caused by the excessive production of aldosterone
Conn’s syndrome
the synthetic equivalent of natural corticosteroids that are administered to suppress inflammation and to act as an immunosuppressant
cortisone (hydrocortisone)
a congenital form of hypothyroidism
cretinism
a condition caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol
Cushing’s syndrome (hypercortisolism)
a condition caused by insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone or the inability of the kidneys to respond to this hormone
diabetes insipidus
a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both
diabetes mellitus
a diabetic emergency caused by very high blood sugar
diabetic coma
damage to the retina as a complication of uncontrolled diabetes
diabetic retinopathy
an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball out of the orbit
exophthalmos
a blood test to measure the glucose levels after the patient has not eaten for 8 to 12 hours
fasting blood sugar (fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test)
a blood test that measures average glucose levels over the past three weeks
fructosamine test
the production of breast milk in women who are not breast feeding
galactorrhea
the form of diabetes that occurs during some pregnancies
gestational diabetes mellitus
abnormal growth of the entire body caused by excessive secretion of the growth hormone before puberty
gigantism
an abnormal, nonmalignant enlargement of the thyroid gland
goiter (thyromegaly)
an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system stimulates the thyroid to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone
Grave’s disease
an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own antibodies attack and destroy the cells of the thyroid gland
Hashimoto’s disease (chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis)
a blood test that measures the average blood glucose level over the previous three to four months
hemoglobin A1c testing (HbA1c)
test performed by the patient using a drop of blood to measure the current blood sugar level
home blood glucose monitoring
a synthetic version of the growth hormone that is administered to stimulate growth when the natural supply of growth hormone is insufficient for normal development
human growth hormone
abnormally high concentrations of calcium in the blood
hypercalcemia
an abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood
hyperglycemia
the excessive secretion of hormones by the sex glands
hypergonadism