Disorders of the Endocrine System

Question 1

What is the endocrine system?

Answer 1

interacts closely with nerves system and immune system to regulate all body functions

Question 2

What does the endocrine system regulate?

Answer 2

all body processes including HR, BP, and elasticity of blood vessels.

Question 3

What else does the endocrine system control?

Answer 3

-metabolism of water and nutrients
-controls physical growth and sexual development
-influence emotions

Question 4

What are the endocrine glands?

Answer 4

-pituitary
-thyroid
-parathyroids
-adrenals: medulla and cortex
-pancreas
-ovaries
-testes

Question 5

What are the characteristics of endocrine glands?

Answer 5

-ductless glands: release hormones directly into blood not through ducts
-glands are highly vascular

Question 6

What do hormones do in endocrine organs?

Answer 6

production and secretion

Question 7

What is target tissue?

Answer 7

-when some hormones effect a specific site
-when other hormones effect multiple sites

Question 8

Why are hormones produced in endocrine glands?

Answer 8

to help regulate cellular and/ or chemical reactions that involve all bodily functions

Question 9

What are hormones released by?

Answer 9

signals from the nervous system, in response to hormone level changes

Question 10

How do hormones know where to go?

Answer 10

it has its own receptor and will communicate only with specific target cells

Question 11

What do hormone disorders involve?

Answer 11

either hypo secretion or hyper secretion of a hormone

Question 12

Why do nurses require general knowledge of hormones?

Answer 12

we administer drugs to replace or inhibit hormones and provide client education

Question 13

Hormones are produced and/ or released by endocrine organs in response to what?

Answer 13

a signal from the nervous system when a hormone level in the blood is too HIGH or too low

Question 14

How does an endocrine hormone released?

Answer 14

-it is releases from the organ directly in the blood, not through a duct
-travels in blood and may not reach all cells although most have designated target cells, organ, or tissue

Question 15

How can hormones be produced by neoplasms (tumors)?

Answer 15

-specific lung tumor produces ADH
-thyroid tumor produces thyroid hormone

Question 16

Hyperfunction- Endocrine Problems

Answer 16

-excess hormone produced

-excessive gland stimulation and enlargement from autoimmune disorder

-gland tumor that produces hormone

-tumor outside a gland that produces hormones

-idiopathic

Question 17

Hypofunction- Endocrine Problems

Answer 17

-congenital absence or defect of gland or enzyme needed for gland to produce hormone

-gland damage or destroyed by ischemia, infarctions, infection, inflammation or tumor

-gland atrophy that doesn’t produce hormone

-autoimmune disorder

-surgical removal

-hormone receptor deficits

Question 18

What are the functions of the hypothalamus?

Answer 18

-connects between endocrine and nervous system
-controls secretion of posterior pituitary hormones
-secrete releasing and inhibitory factor hormone that regulate anterior pituitary activities

Question 19

Why does the anterior pituitary act on target tissues or organs?

Answer 19

to stimulate the production of other hormones

Question 20

What is the role of the hypothalamus?

Answer 20

-maintains homeostasis

-regulates temperature, heart rate, blood pressure

-governs emotional behaviors

-secretes hormones that act on pituitary gland

Question 21

What does Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH look like?

Answer 21

-ADH EXCESS

-kidney tubules absorb more water resulting in fluid volume excess

-decreased serum osmolality

-concentrated urine

-hyponatremia

-hypertension

-weight gain

Question 22

What does Diabetes Insipidus (DI) look like?

Answer 22

-ADH deficiency

-kidney doesn’t reabsorb usual water resulting in fluid volume deficit

-increased serum osmolality

-large volume urine output

-hypernatremia

-hypotension

-weight loss

-possible shock due to decreased circulating volume

Question 23

What are the functions of the thyroid glands?

Answer 23

-regulates all aspects of metabolism

-nutrient metabolism

-temp

-growth and maturation

-blood vessel elasticity

Question 24

What is the role of thyroid stimulating hormone?

Answer 24

-stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3) into the blood for transport to target tissues

Question 25

What micronutrient is essential for adequate thyroid function?

Answer 25

Iodine

Question 26

What are sources of iodine?

Answer 26

salt and seafood

Question 27

Hypothyroidism Clinical Manifestations

Answer 27

-low T3 and T4/ high TSH

-inadequate thyroid functions

hypometabolism

-decreased appetite, weight gain

-cold intolerance

-fatigue

-depression

-reduced/ absent sweating

-constipation

-menstrual irregularity

Question 28

What is myxedema?

Answer 28

-SEVERE life threatening hypothyroidism

-widespread edema

-enlarged tongue

-hearing loss due to buildup of fluid in ear cavity

Question 29

Hyperthyroidism- Clinical Manifestations

Answer 29

-high T3 and T4/ Low TSH

-excess thyroid hormone

-goiter if iodine deficiency

-hypermetabolism

-increased appetite, weight loss

-heat intolerance

-nervousness/ agitation

-insomnia

-expothalmos

-menstrual irregularity

Question 30

Thyrotoxic Crisis- Thyroid storm

Answer 30

-severe, life threatening hyperthyroidism

-severe tachycardia

-heart failure

-severe hyperthermia

-abdominal pain

-delirium

-coma

-death

Question 31

Where are the adrenal glands located?

Answer 31

atop each kidney

Question 32

What is found in the outer part of the adrenals?

Answer 32

-glucocorticoids (raise BP)
-aldosterone
-testosterone

Question 33

What do glucocorticoids control?

Answer 33

-carb, protein metabolism
-emotional control
-immune/ inflammatory response

Question 34

What does the medulla (inner part) of the adrenals do?

Answer 34

Secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine

Question 35

Hypercortisolism Etiology

Answer 35

-Cushing disease: excess adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from pituitary

-adrenal tumor

-non pituitary tumor that is secreting ACTH

-Cushing syndrome: glucocorticoid drug therapy

Question 36

Adrenal Cortical Insufficiency Etiology

Answer 36

-most common: rapid discontinuance of glucocorticoid drug therapy

-primary: Addison disease: adrenal gland destruction

Question 37

Hypercortisolism- Clinical Manifestations

Answer 37

-easy bruising
-osteoporosis
-hypokalemia
-hyperglycemia
-hypernatremia
-hirsutism: excess hair
-fat redistribution

Question 38

Adrenal Cortical Insufficiency- Clinical Manifestations

Answer 38

-hypoglycemia
-hyponatremia
-hyperkalemia
-hypotension
-blotches of dark skin pigment
-masculinization

Question 39

What is the pancreas considered to be?

Answer 39

Both an exocrine and endocrine gland

Question 40

What is the endocrine function of the pancreas?

Answer 40

secretes hormones that regulate glucose metabolism

Question 41

What do beta cells release?

Answer 41

insulin

Question 42

What do alpha cells release?

Answer 42

glucagon

Question 43

What are the sources of glucose?

Answer 43

-food absorbed in small bowel

-glucose administered IV

-glucose converted from stored glycogen

-metabolism of carbs, fat, protein