Endocrine Flashcards
endocrine system
is a communication system. The hormones it produces are blood-borne messengers secreted by endocrine glands. They are distributed anywhere that blood goes but affect only the target cells that have receptors for them. Actions these hormones regulate cell metabolism, reproduction, sexual development, sugar and mineral homeostasis, heart rate and digestions
Organs of the endocrine system include:
-hypothalamus
-pituitary gland
-parathyroid glad
-thyroid gland
-pineal gland
-thymus gland
-adrenal glands
-ovaries and testes
-pancreas
adrenal glands
adren/o
gonads
gonad/o
male testicles
testic/o
female ovaries
ovari/o
pancreatic islets
pancreat/o
parathyroid glands
parathyroid/o
pineal gland
pineal/o
pituitary gland
pitutit/o
pituitar/o
thymus
thym/o
thyroid gland
thyr/o
thyroid/o
acr/o
extremities (hands and feet), top, extreme point
adren/o
adenal glands
crin/o
secrete
-dipsia
thirst
glyc/o
glucose, sugar
gonad/o
gonad, sex glands
-ism
condition, state of
pancreat/o
pancreas
parathyroid/o
parathyroid glands
pineal/o
pineal gland
pituitar/o
pituitary gland
poly-
many
somat/o
body
thym/o
thymus gland
thyr/o, thyroid/o
thyroid gland
acromegaly
a rare chronic disease characterized by abnormal enlargement of the extremities (hands and feet) caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone after puberty
Addison’s disease
a condition that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol or aldosterone
adrenalitis
inflammation of the adrenal glands
aldosteronism
an abnormality of electrolyte balance caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone
antidiuretic hormone
the hormone that helps control blood pressure by reducing the amount of water that is excreted through the kidneys
calcitonin
a hormone that works with the parathyroid hormone to decrease calcium levels in the blood and tissues
Conn’s syndrome
a disorder of the adrenal glands due to excessive production of aldosterone
cortisol
a hormone that has an anti-inflammatory action; it also regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the body
cretinism
a congenital form of hypothyroidism that if, not treated soon after birth, causes arrested physical and mental development
Crushing’s syndrome
a condition caused by the overproduction of cortisol by the body or by taking corticosteroids to treat inflammatory diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis; also know as hypercortisolism
Diabetes insipidus
a condition caused by insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or by the inability of the kidneys to respond to ADH
diabetes mellitus
a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both
diabetic retinopathy
injury to the eye that occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina of the eye
electrolytes
mineral substances, such as sodium and potassium, normally found in the blood
epinephrine
a hormone that stimulates the sympathetic nervous system in response to physical injury or to mental stress such as fear; also known as adrenaline
estrogen
a hormone with an important role in the development and maintenance of the female secondary sex characteristics and the regulation of the menstrual cycle
exophthalmos
an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball out of the orbit
follicle-stimulating hormone
the hormone that stimulates the secretion of estrogen and the growth of ova (eggs) in the ovaries of the female. In the male, it stimulates the production of sperm in the testicles (testes)
fructosamine test
a blood test that measures average glucose levels over the past 3 weeks
gestational diabetes mellitus
the form of diabetes that occurs during some pregnancies
gigantism
abnormal growth of the entire body that is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone before puberty
glucagon
the hormone that increases the amount of glucose in the bloodstream by stimulating the liver to convert glycogen into glucose
glucose
the basic form of energy used by the body; also known as blood sugar
Graves’ disease
a disorder of unknown cause in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and stimulates it to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, resulting in hyperthyroidism
growth hormone
the hormone that regulates the growth of bone, muscle, and other body tissues
gynecomastia
the condition of excessive mammary development in the male
Hashimoto’s disease
an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own antibodies attack and destroy the cells of the thyroid gland
hypercalcemia
abnormally high concentrations of calcium circulating in the blood instead of being stored in the bones and teeth
hyperglycemia
an abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood
hyperinsulinism
a condition marked by excessive secretion of insulin in the bloodstream
hyperpituitarism
the excessive secretion of growth hormone that causes acromegaly and gigantism
hyperthyroidism
the overproduction of thyroid hormones, which causes an imbalance of metabolism
hypoglycemia
an abnormally low concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood
hypothyroidism
a deficiency of thyroid secretion; also known as underactive thyroid
insulin
the hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets in response to high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Its function is to allow glucose to enter cells for energy or to stimulate the liver to convert glucose to glycogen for storage
insluinoma
a benign tumor of the pancreas that causes hypoglycemia
ketosis
a normal metabolic process that helps the body utilize stored fat when other sources of energy are lacking
laparoscopic adrenalectomy
a minimally invasive procedure to surgically remove one or both adrenal glands
lepin
a protein hormone secreted by fat cells that is involved in the regulation of appetite
luteinizing hormone
the hormone that stimulates ovulation in the female and production of the female sex hormone progesterone. In the male, it stimulates the secretion of testosterone
myxedema
a severe form of adult hypothyroidism
norepinephrine
a combination of a hormone and a neurohormone that plays an important role in the “fight-or-flight response”
oxytocin
hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth
pancreatitis
inflammation of the pancreas
parathyroidectomy
the surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands
pituitary adenoma
one of two types of slow-growing, benign tumors of the pituitary gland that may or may not cause excess hormone secretion
polydipsia
excessive thirst
polyphagia
excessive hunger
polyuria
excessive urination
prediabetes
a condition in which the blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes
progesterone
this hormone, whose function is to complete the preparation of the uterus for pregnancy, is released during the second half of the menstrual cycle by the corpus luteum in the ovary
prolactinoma
a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that causes the gland to produce to much prolactin
puberty
the process of physical changes by which a child’s body becomes and adult body that is capable of reproducing
radioactive iodine treatment
the oral administration of radioactive iodine to destroy thyroid cells
steroids
a large family of hormonelike substances that share the same fat-soluble chemical structure
testosterone
a steroid hormone secreted by the testes and the adrenal cortex that stimulates the development of male secondary sex characteristics
thymectomy
the surgical removal of the thymus gland
thymitis
inflammation of the thymus gland
thymosin
hormone secreted by the thymus gland that stimulates the maturation of lymphocytes into T cells of the immune system
thyroxine
one of the primary hormones secreted by the thyroid gland that regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of other body system
homeostasis
the process through which the body maintains a constant internal environment
primary function of the endocrine system is to
produce hormones that work together to maintain homeostasis
hormones
are chemical messengers that are secreted by endocrine glands directly into the bloodstream. This enables them to reach targeted cells and organs throughout the body
Each hormone has specialized functions in regulating the activities of specific cells, organs, or both. The hormones of the endocrine system affect almost every organ and cell in the body.
Blood or urine tests are used to measure hormone levels.
Endocrine glands
which produce hormones, do not have ducts
endo-
means within
-crine
means to secrete
there are 13 major glands that make up the endocrine system
-pineal gland
-hypothalamus
-pituitary gland
-parathyroid glands (posterior)
-thyroid gland
-thymus gland
-adrenal glands
-pancreatic islets
-ovaries (in females)
-testicles (in the male)
there is 1 pituitary gland
divided into two lobes
how many pineal glands are there
1
how many thyroid glands are there
1
how many parathyroid glands are there
4
how many thymus are there
1
how many pancreas are there
1 (also known as pancreatic islets)
how many adrenal glands are there
2
how many gonads are there?
2
either a pair of ovaries in females or a pair of testicles in males
pituitary gland
or hypophysis, is a pea-sized gland that is divided into two parts, the anterior and the posterior lobes. These lobes hang from a stalk-like structure located below the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus is part of the nervous system that produces hormones that control many body functions.
primary functions of the pituitary gland
is to secrete hormones that control the activity of other endocrine glands. The pituitary gland acts in response to stimuli from neurohormones secreted by the hypothalamus. This creates a system of checks and balances to maintain an appropriate blood level in each hormone
secretions of the pituitary gland: anterior lobe
the adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
growth hormone (GH)
lactogenic hormone (LGH)
luteinizing hormone (LH)
melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)