Chapter 16: Endocrine System Flashcards
The endocrine system is composed of how many endocrine glands distributed throughout the body?
Seven
The seven endocrine glands are:
Pituitary, 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.cl, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas, gonads, and thymus
The endocrine system’s function is to what?
Secrete hormones into the blood stream which regulate many specific body activities.
The hormones travel all throughout the body but only effect specific what?
Target cells
The endocrine glands are also called what glands and why?
Ductless glands because they do not have ducts to carry out their secretion
The pituitary gland is approximately the size of a what and is located at the base of the what?
Pea, brain
What are the two lobes of the pituitary gland?
Anterior and posterior lobes
The pituitary gland is often referred to as the what gland and why?
The master gland because it produces hormones that stimulate the function of other endocrine glands.
The pituitary gland is also called:
Hypophysis cerebri
The anterior lobe of the pituitary gland is also called:
Adenohypophysis
The anterior lobe has what function?
Produces and secretes the following hormones
The growth hormone does what?
Regulates the growth of the body
The adrenocorticotropic hormone does what?
Stimulates the adrenal cortex
The thyroid-stimulating hormone does what?
Stimulates the thyroid gland
The gonadotropic hormones do what?
Stimulates the gonads (testes and ovaries)
What are two gonadotropic hormones released from the adenohypophysis?
Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone
What does prolactin do?
Promotes development of glandular tissue during pregnancy and produces milk after birth of an infant
The posterior lobe of the pituitary gland is also called:
Neurohypophysis
The posterior lobe has what function?
Stores and releases antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin
The antidiuretic hormone is also called:
Vasopressin
The antidiuretic hormone does what?
Stimulates the kidney to reabsorb water and constricts blood vessels to help maintain blood pressure
Oxytocin does what?
Stimulates uterine contractions during labor and postpartum, and milk let down by the breasts postpartum
Where is the hypothalamus located?
It is located superior to the pituitary gland in the brain.
What does the hypothalamus do?
Secretes “releasing” hormones that function to stimulate or inhibit the release of pituitary gland hormones.
What is the largest endocrine gland?
Thyroid gland
Where is the thyroid gland located?
Located anteriorly in the neck below the larynx and comprises bilateral lobes connected by an isthmus.
What does the thyroid gland do?
Secretes the hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which require iodine for their production.
What is necessary for body cell metabolism?
Thyroxine
Where are the parathyroid glands located?
Four small bodies embedded in the posterior aspect of the lobes of the thyroid gland.
What does the parathyroid glands secrete and what does that secretion do?
Parathyroid hormone (PTH) which helps maintain the level of calcium in the blood by its effects on bone and kidneys.
Islets of Langerhans are located where?
Clusters of endocrine tissue found throughout the pancreas
Islets of Langerhans do what?
Made up of different cell types that secrete various hormones, including insulin and glucagon.
Non-endocrine cells found throughout the pancreas produce enzymes that facilitate what?
Digestion
Where are adrenal glands located?
Located superior to each kidney
What do adrenal glands do?
Paired glands that secrete the hormones cortisol, aldosterone, and epinephrine/norepinephrine.
The outer portion of the adrenal glands is called what? The inner portion?
Outer – Adrenal cortex
Inner – Adrenal medulla
What does the hormone cortisol do?
Aids the body during stress by increasing glucose levels to provide energy.
The hormone cortisol is also called:
Hydrocortisone
Aldosterone does what?
Regulates electrolytes (mineral salts) that are necessary for normal body function
Epinephrine/norepinephrine is secreted by what?
The adrenal medulla
Aldosterone is secreted by what?
Adrenal cortex
Cortisol is secreted by what?
Adrenal cortex
Epinephrine/norepinephrine does what?
Hormones that help the body to deal with stress by increasing blood pressure, heartbeat, and respirations.
Epinephrine is also called:
Adrenaline
Norepinephrine is also called:
Noradrenaline
Adren/o
Adrenal glands
Adrenal/o
Adrenal glands
Cortic/o
Cortex (outer layer of a body organ)
Endocrin/o
Endocrine
Parathyroid/o
Parathyroid glands
Pituitar/o
Pituitary gland
Thyroid/o
Thyroid gland
Acr/o
Extremities, height
Calc/i
Calcium
Dips/o
Thirst
Glyc/o
Sugar
Kal/i
Potassium
Natr/o
Sodium
Acromegaly
Enlargement of the extremities (and face due to increased soft tissue, bone, and cartilage; caused by excess production of the growth hormone by the pituitary gland after puberty)
Adrenalitis
Inflammation of the adrenal glands
Adrenomegaly
Enlargement of (one or both) the adrenal glands
Endocrinopathy
(Any) disease of the endocrine (system)
Hypercalcemia
Excessive calcium in the blood
Hyperglycemia
Excessive sugar in the blood
Hyperkalemia
Excessive potassium in the blood
Hyperparathyroidis
State of excessive parathyroid gland activity (resulting in hypercalcemia and leading to osteoporosis, as well as symptoms of muscle weakness, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness)
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; symptoms and signs include tachycardia, weight loss, irritability, and heat intolerance)
Hypocalcemia
Deficient calcium in the blood
Hypoglycemia
Deficient sugar in the blood
Hypokalcemia
Deficient potassium in the blood
Hyponatremia
Deficient sodium in the blood
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)
Hypothyroidism
State of deficient thyroid gland activity (characterized by decrease secretion of thyroid hormones; signs and symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, and cold intolerance)
Panhypopituitarism
State of total deficient pituitary gland activity (characterized by decreased secretion of all the anterior pituitary hormones; this is a more serious condition than hypopituitarism in that it affects the function of all other endocrine glands)
Parathyroidoma
Tumor of a parathyroidoma
Thyroiditis
Inflammation of the thyroid gland
Addison disease
Chronic syndrome resulting from a deficiency in the hormonal secretion of the adrenal cortex.
What are five signs and symptoms of Addison disease?
Weight less, weakness, hypotension, darkening of skin, and loss of appetite.
Congenital hypothyroidism
Condition caused by a congenital absence or atrophy (wasting away) of the thyroid gland, resulting in hypothyroidism.
Congenital hypothyroidism is characterized by:
Puffy features, mental deficiency, large tongue, and short stature.
Cushing syndrome:
Group of signs and symptoms attributed to the excessive production of cortisol by the adrenal cortices. May be the result of a pituitary tumor that produces ACTH or a primary adrenal cortex hypersecretion.
Signs of Cushing syndrome are:
Abnormally pigmented skin, “moon face”, pads of fat on the chest and abdomen, “buffalo hump” (fat on back), wasting away of muscle, and hypertension.
Diabetes insipidus
Result of decreased secretion of antidiuretic hormone by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
Symptoms of diabetes insipidus include:
Excessive thirst (polydipsia), large amounts of urine (polyuria), and water being excreted from the body
Diabetes mellitus:
Chronic disease involving a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism caused by under-activity of the insulin-producing islets of Langerhans and characterized by elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
Diabetes mellitus can cause:
Chronic renal disease, retinopathy, and neuropathy. In extreme cases, a patient may develop ketosis, acidosis, and finally coma.
Gigantism
Condition brought about by hypersecretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland before puberty
Graves disease
Autoimmune disorder of the thyroid gland characterized by the production of more thyroid hormone than the body needs (hyperthyroidism), goiter, exophthalamos (abnormal protrusion of the eyeball)
Hashimoto thyroiditis
Disease in which thyroid gland cells are destroyed by autoimmune processes. Characterized by hypothyroidism and goiter
Hashimoto thyroiditis is more common in which sex?
Women
Ketoacidosis
Serious condition resulting from uncontrolled diabetes mellitus in which acid ketones accumulate from fat metabolism in the absence of adequate insulin. Can progress to coma and death if not promptly controlled by adequate insulin and hydration.
Metabolic syndrome
Group of signs and symptoms including insulin resistance, obesity characterized by excessive fat around the area of the waist and abdomen, hypertension, hyperglycemia, elevated triglycerides, and low levels of the “good” cholesterol HDL.
What are risks of metabolic syndrome?
Development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, or stroke
Metabolic syndrome is also called:
Syndrome X and insulin resistance syndrome
Myxedema
Condition resulting from an extreme deficiency of the thyroid hormone thyroxine; a severe form of hypothyroidism in an adult.
Signs of myxedema include:
Puffiness of the face and hands, coarse and thickened skin, enlarged tongue, slow speech, and anemia.
Neuroblastoma
Malignant cancer that often starts in the adrenal medulla, composed of immature nerve cells. Primarily affects children.
Pheochromocytoma
Tumor of the adrenal medulla, which is usually non-malignant and characterized by hypertension, headaches, palpitations, diaphoresis, chest pain, and abdominal pain
The most common treatment of pheochromocytoma is and if left untreated, the end can be what?
Surgical removal of the tumor. Usually curable with early detection but can be fatal if left untreated.
Thyrotoxicosis
Condition caused by excessive thyroid hormones
Adrenalectomy
Excision of (one or both) adrenal glands
Parathyroidcetomy
Excision of (one or both) parathyroid glands
Thyroidectomy
Excision of the thyroid gland
Radioactive iodine uptake
Nuclear medicine scan that measures thyroid function, particularly when distinguishing different causes of hyperthyroidism. Radioactive iodine is given to the patient orally, after which the amount of its uptake into the thyroid gland is measured. Images of the gland can also be obtained using this procedure.
Sestamibi parathyroid scan
Nuclear medicine procedure used to localize hyperactive parathyroid glands. The glands that take up an abnormal amount of radioactive substance are identified and selected for surgical removal; the other parathyroid glands may be left in place.
Thyroid sonography
Ultrasound test of the thyroid gland used to help determine whether a thyroid nodule is likely benign or possibly malignant, including whether it is cystic or solid. Also used to help guide a fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy.
Fasting blood sugar
Blood test to determine the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood after fasting for 8 to 10 hours. Elevation may indicate diabetes mellitus.
Fine needle aspiration
Biopsy technique that uses a narrow hollow needle to obtain tiny amounts of tissue for pathologic examination. Thyroid nodules are frequently biopsied using FNA.
Glycosylated hemoglobin
Blood test used to diagnose diabetes and monitor its treatment by measuring the amount of glucose (sugar) 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
Glycosylated hemoglobin is also called
Glycated hemoglobin, hemoglobin A1c, and A1c test
Thyroid-stimulating hormone level
Blood test that measures the amount of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood; used to diagnose thyroid disorders and to monitor patients on thyroid replacement therapy
Thyroxine level
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.
Adrencorticohyperplasia
Excessive development of the adrenal cortex
Euglycemia
Normal (level of) sugar in the blood (within the range)
Euthyroid
Normal thyroid gland activity
Glycemia
Sugar in the blood
Polydipsia
Abnormal state of much thirst
Endocrinologist
Physician who studies and treats diseases of the endocrine (system)
Endocrinology
Study of the endocrine (system) (A branch of medicine dealing with diseases of the endocrine system)
Cortical
Pertaining to the cortex
Syndrome
Run together (signs and symptoms occurring together that are characteristic of a specific disorder)
Exophthalmo
Abnormal protrusion of the eyeball
Goiter
Enlargement of the thyroid gland. May be caused by autoimmune diseases of the thyroid, iodine deficiency, or the presence of multiple nodules
Tetany
Condition affecting nerves causing multiple spasms as a result of low amounts of calcium in the blood caused by a deficiency of the parathyroid hormone
Hormone
Chemical substance secreted by an endocrine gland that is carried in the blood to a target tissue
Incretins
A group of hormones produced by the GI system that stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas and help preserve the beta cells.
Incretin mimetics
Medications that copy the action of incretin and help control blood sugar in patient with type 2 diabetes mullitus
Metabolis
Sum total of all the chemical processes that take place in a living organism
DI
Diabetes insipidus
DKA
Diabetic ketoacidosis
DM
Diabetes mellitus
SIADH
Syndrome of inappropriate AHD (secretion)
T1DM
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D)
T2DM
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D)
ACTH
Adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADH
Antidiuretic hormone
FBS
Fasting blood sugar
FNA
Fine needle aspiration
FSH
Follicle-stimulating hormone
GH
Growth hormone
HbA1c
Glycosylated hemoglobin
LH
Luteinizing hormone
PRL
Prolactin
PTH
Parathyroid hormone
RAIU
Radioactive iodine uptake
TSH
Thyroid-stimulating hormone
T4
Thyroxine level
