Chapter 18 Endocrine System Flashcards
adrenal cortex
outer section (cortex) of each adrenal gland; secretes cortisol, aldosterone, and sex hormones.
adrenal medulla
inner section (medulla) of each adrenal gland; secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine
ovaries
located in the lower abdomen of a female; responsible for egg production and estrogen and progesterone secretion.
pancreas
located behind the stomach. Islet (alpha and beta) cells (islet of Langerhans) secrete hormones from the pancreas. The pancreas also contains cells that are exocrine in function. They secrete enzymes, via a duct into the small intestine to aid digestion.
parathyroid glands
four small glands on the posterior of the thyroid gland. Some people may have three or five parathyroid glands.
pituitary gland (hypophysis)
located at the base of the brain in the sella turcica; composed of an anterior lobe (adenohypophysis) and a posterior lobe (neurohypophysis).
testes
two glands enclosed in the scrotal sac of a male; responsible for sperm production and testosterone secretion.
thyroid gland
located in the neck on either side of the trachea; secretes thyroxine.
adrenaline (epinephrine)
secreted by the adrenal medulla; increases heart rate and blood pressure.
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland (adenohypophysis); also called adrenocorticotropin. ACTH stimulates the adrenal cortex.
aldosterone
secreted by the adrenal cortex; increases salt (sodium) reabsorption.
androgen
male hormone secreted by the testes and to a lesser extent by the adrenal cortex; testosterone is an example.
antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland (neurohypophysis). ADH (vasopressin) increases reabsorption of water by the kidney.
calcitonin
secreted by the thyroid gland; decreases blood calcium levels.
cortisol
secreted by the adrenal cortex; increases blood sugar. It is secreted in times of stress and has an anti-inflammatory effect.
epinephrine (adrenaline)
secreted by the adrenal medulla; increases heart rate and blood pressure and dilates airways (sympathomimetic). It is part of the body’s “fight or flight” reaction.
estradiol
estrogen (female hormone) secreted by the ovaries.
estrogen
female hormone secreted by the ovaries and to a lesser extent by the adrenal cortex. Examples are estradiol and estrone.
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland (adenohypophysis). FSH stimulates hormone secretion and egg production by the ovaries and sperm production by the testes.
glucagon
secreted by alpha islet cells of the pancreas; increases blood sugar by conversion of glycogen (starch) to glucose.
growth hormone (GH); somatotropin
secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland (adenohypophysis); stimulates growth of bones and soft tissues.
insulin
secreted by beta islet cells of the pancreas. Insulin helps glucose (sugar) to pass into cells, and it promotes the conversion of glucose to glycogen.
luteinizing hormone (LH)
secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland (adenohypophysis); stimulates ovulation in females and testosterone secretion in males.
norepinephrine
secreted by the adrenal medulla; increases heart rate and blood pressure (sympathomimetic).
oxytocin (OT)
secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland (neurohypophysis); stimulates contraction of the uterus during labor and childbirth.
parathormone (PTH)
secreted by the parathyroid glands; increases blood calcium.
progesterone
secreted by the ovaries; prepares the uterus for pregnancy.
prolactin (PRL)
secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland (adenohypophysis); promotes milk secretion.
somatotropin (STH)
secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland (adenohypophysis): growth hormone
testosterone
male hormone secreted by the testes.
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); thyrotropin
secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland (adenohypophysis). TSH acts on the thyroid gland to promote its functioning.
thyroxine (T4)
secreted by the thyroid gland; also called tetraiodothyronine. T4 increases metabolism in cells.
triiodothyronine (T3)
secreted by the thyroid gland; T3 increases metabolism in cells.
vasopressin
secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland (neurohypophysis); antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
catecholamines
hormones derived from an amino acid and secreted by the adrenal medulla. epinephrine is a catecholamine.
corticosteroids
hormones (steroids) produced by the adrenal cortex. Examples are cortisol (raises sugar levels), aldosterone (raises salt reabsorption by kidneys), and androgens and estrogens (sex hormones).
electrolyte
mineral salt found in the blood and tissues and necessary for proper functioning of cells; potassium, sodium, and calcium are electrolytes.
glucocorticoid
steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex; regulates glucose, fat, and protein metabolism. Cortisol raises blood sugar and is part of the stress response.
homeostasis
tendency of an organism to maintain a constant internal environment
hormone
substance, secreted by an endocrine gland, that travels through the blood to a distant organ or gland where it influences the structure or function of that organ or gland.
hypothalamus
region of the brain lying below the thalamus and above the pituitary gland. it secretes releasing factors and hormones that affect the pituitary gland.
mineralocorticoid
steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex to regulate mineral salts (electrolytes) and water balance in the body. Aldosterone is an example.
receptor
cellular or nuclear protein that binds to a hormone so that a response can be elicited.
sella turcica
cavity in the skull that contains the pituitary gland.
sex hormones
steroids (androgens and estrogens) produced by the adrenal cortex to influence male and female sexual characteristics.
steroid
complex substance related to fats (derived from a sterol, such as cholesterol), and of which many hormones are made.
sympathomimetic
pertaining to mimicking or copying the effect of the sympathetic nervous system. Adrenaline is a sympathomimetic hormone (it raises blood pressure and heart rate and dilates airways).
target tissue
cells of an organ that are affected or stimulated by specific hormones.
aden/o
gland
adren/o, adrenal/o
adrenal gland
gonad/o
sex glands
pancreat/o
pancreas
parathyroid/o
parathyroid gland
pituitar/o
pituitary gland; hypophysis
thyr/o, thyroid/o
thyroid gland
andr/o
male
calc/o
calcium
cortic/o
cortex, outer region
crin/o
secrete
dips/o
thirst
estr/o
female
gluc/o
sugar
glyc/o
sugar
home/o
sameness
hormon/o
hormone
kal/i
potassium
lact/o
milk
myx/o
mucus
natr/o
sodium
phys/o
growing
somat/o
body
ster/o
solid structure
toc/o
childbirth
toxic/o
poison
ur/o
urine
-agon
assemble, gather together
-emia
blood condition
-in, -ine
a substance
-tropin
stimulating the function of
-uria
urine condition
eu-
good, normal
hyper-
excessive; above
hypo-
deficient; below under; less than normal
oxy-
rapid, sharp, acid
pan-
all
tetra-
four
tri-
three
hyperthyroidism
overactivity of the thyroid gland; thyrotoxicosis
hypothyroidism
underactivity of the thyroid gland
thyroid carcinoma
cancer of the thyroid gland
hyperparathyroidism
excessive production of parathormone
hypoparathyroidism
deficient production of parathyroid hormone
adrenal virilism
excessive secretion of adrenal androgens
cushing syndrome
group of signs and symptoms produced by excess cortisol from the adrenal cortex. obesity, rounded face, thin skin that bruises easy, and muscle weakness.
Addison disease
hypofunctioning of the adrenal cortex.
pheochromocytoma
benign tumor of the adrenal medulla; tumor cells stain a dark or dusky color.
hyperinsulinism
excess secretion of insulin causing hypoglycemia.
diabetes mellitus (DM)
lack of insulin secretion or resistance of insulin in promoting sugar, starch, and fat metabolism in cells.
acromegaly
hypersecretion of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary after puberty, leading to enlargement of extremities.
gigantism
hypersecretion of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary before puberty, leading to abnormal overgrowth of body tissues.
dwarfism
congenital hyposecretion of growth hormone; hypopituitary dwarfism
panhypopituitarism
deficiency of all pituitary hormones
syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH)
excessive secretion of antidiuretic hormone.
diabetes insipidus (DI)
insufficient secretion of antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin).
fasting plasma glucose (FPG)
also known as fasting blood sugar test. Measures circulating glucose level in a patient who has fasted at least 8 hours.
serum and urine tests
measurement of hormones, electrolytes, glucose, and other substances in serum (blood) and urine as indicators of endocrine function.
thyroid function tests
measurement of T3, T4, and TSH in the bloodstream.
exophthalmometry
measurement of eyeball protrusion (as in Graves disease) with an exophthalmometer.
computed tomography (CT) scan
x-ray imaging of endocrine glands in cross section and other views, to assess size and infiltration by tumor.
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
magnetic waves produce images of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to locate abnormalities.
radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) scan
radioactive iodine is administered orally, and its uptake by the thyroid gland is imaged to assess thyroid function.
thyroid scan
scanner detects radioactivity and visualizes the thyroid gland after intravenous administration of a radioactive (technetium) compound.
ultrasound examination
sound waves show images of endocrine organs.
