Endocrine and Metabolic Systems

Question 1

Define this abbreviation: T1DM (4 words)

Answer 1

Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Question 2

Define this diagnostic procedure: U/A (2 or 1 words)

Answer 2

Urine analysis (or urinalysis)

Question 3

Define this abbreviation: DKA (2 words)

Answer 3

Diabetic ketoacidosis

Question 4

Define this diagnostic procedure: TFTs (3 words)

Answer 4

Thyroid function tests

Question 5

Define this abbreviation: TSH (3 words)

Answer 5

Thyroid stimulating hormone

Question 6

Define this abbreviation: T4 (1 word)

Answer 6

Thyroxine

Question 7

Define this abbreviation: BP (2 words)

Answer 7

Blood pressure

Question 8

Define this diagnostic procedure: FBC (3 words)

Answer 8

Full blood count

Question 9

Define this test that measures the proportion of red blood cells in the blood: Hct (1 word)

Answer 9

Haematocrit

Question 10

Define this abbreviation which is a type of hormone: ACTH (2 words, first word 20 letters followed by ‘hormone’)

Answer 10

Adrenocorticotrophic hormone

Question 11

Explain Hashimoto’s disease?
Think of definition, aetiology, symptoms, treatment.

Answer 11

Definition: An autoimmune disease of the thyroid gland.

Aetiology (cause): Circulating thyroglobulin and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies in the blood attack the thyroid tissue. The resulting inflammation and destruction of thyroid cells inhibits the thyroid’s ability to produce T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxine) resulting in hypothyroidism.

Symptoms: Goitre, weight gain, fatigue, lethargy, dry skin and hair, bradycardia and depression.

Treatment: Thyroid replacement therapy (thyroxine).

Question 12

Explain gouty arthritis?
Think of definition, aetiology, symptoms, treatment.

Answer 12

Definition: A disorder of purine metabolism in which uric acid appears in excessive quantities in the blood (hyperuricaemia).

Aetiology (cause): Levels of uric acid build up in the blood when the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys do not eliminate enough uric acid. Excessive uric acid is converted to sodium urate crystals which may be deposited in the joints and other tissues, causing a severe acute arthritis of sudden onset.

Symptoms: Red, swollen and extremely painful joints (commonly big toe) + other joints.

Treatment: Medication to lower uric acid levels in the blood + lifestyle changes.

Question 13

Explain hyperparathyroidism?
Think of definition, aetiology, symptoms, treatment.

Answer 13

Definition: Abnormally increased activity of one or more of the parathyroid glands with consequent production of high concentration of parathyroid hormone (PTH).

Aetiology (cause): Hypersecretion of PTH causes excessive amounts of calcium to leave the bones and the bloodstream, causing hypercalcaemia. This results in bone decalcification causing osteoporosis, fractures and cysts. Most common cause - parathyroid tumour.

Symptoms: High blood pressure, bone pain, fractures, headaches, poor sleep, kidney stones.

Question 14

Explain hirsutism?
Think of definition, aetiology, symptoms, treatment.

Answer 14

Definition: Excessive growth of typically dark and course hair in women.

Aetiology: Women who have high levels of androgens due to an underlying condition such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, Cushing’s syndrome, tumours on the adrenal glands or use of anabolic steroids, or if the cause is unidentifiable, it may be genetic.

Symptoms: Hair growth on the body and face in a distribution usually associated with males, loss of fertility, irregular menstruation, change of body shape and signs of masculinity.

Treatment: Directed at the cause and hair removal / bleaching.

Question 15

Explain lipidosis?
Think of definition, aetiology, symptoms, treatment.

Answer 15

Definition: A group of hereditary disorders affecting lipid metabolism ie. the breakdown of fats and cholesterol in the body. Types include, Gaucher’s disease, Niemann-Pick disease, Krabbe’s disease and Tay-Sach’s disease.

Symptoms: Symptoms vary based on the type of disease but can include, blindness, paralysis, low muscle tone, fatigue, tiredness, blood problems, loss of appetite, intestinal complaints and yellow-brown pigmentation of the skin.

Treatment: (for Gaucher’s disease) may include periodic blood transfusions, pain relievers and a partial or total spleen removal.

Question 16

Explain diabetes insipidus (DI)?
Think of definition, aetiology, symptoms, treatment.

Answer 16

Definition: An acute or chronic excretion of very large amounts of very dilute urine (up to 18 litres per day).
2 types are: Central DI and Nephrogenic DI.

Aetiology (cause): Ordinarily results from deficient production or lack of effective action of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or vasopressin.

Symptoms: Dehydration, excessive thirst, excessive urination.

Treatment: It depends which variant is being treated but options include drinking plenty of fluids, switching to a low salt diet, medication.

Question 17

Explain what a serum test is and what it’s used for?

Answer 17

A blood test conducted when a Dr suspects the patient might have an endocrine disorder.

A serum test is the measure of hormones and other substances in the serum (clear part of blood without clotting factors).

Question 18

Explain gigantism?
Think of definition, aetiology, symptoms, treatment.

Answer 18

Definition: Abnormal overgrowth of the body due to increased secretion of growth hormone before puberty.

Aetiology (cause): Benign adenomas of the pituitary gland are the main cause.

Symptoms: Overgrowth of body stature, height and extremities.

Treatment: If diagnosed early the tumour can be resected or the pituitary gland can be irradiated.

Question 19

Explain diabetes mellitus?
Think of definition, aetiology, symptoms, treatment.

Answer 19

Definition: A disorder of carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism.

Aetiology: A deficiency or lack of insulin secretion (type 1) or resistance to the action of insulin (type 2). Insulin is a hormone produced by and secreted by the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. Insulin insufficiency or ineffectiveness prevents sugar from leaving the blood and entering the body cells, where it’s normally used to produce energy.

Symptoms: Excessive urination (polyuria), obesity, high blood pressure.

Treatment:
Type 1 - regular blood glucose level checks and daily injections of insulin to maintain normal levels of glucose in the blood.
Type 2 - the aim is to control blood glucose and blood lipid levels with diet, weight reduction and exercise amongst other treatment methods.

Question 20

Explain tetany?
Think of definition, aetiology, symptoms, treatment.

Answer 20

Definition: Muscle and nerve weakness.

Aetiology (cause): Commonly caused by calcium deficiency often related to hypofunctioning of the parathyroid glands. Can also be caused by Vitamin D deficiency or alkalosis.

Symptoms: Spasms of muscles, especially the hands, feet and larynx.

Question 21

Name the gland that secretes aldosterone?

Answer 21

Adrenal gland

Question 22

What controls the pituitary gland?

Answer 22

Hypothalamus

Question 23

What secretes oestrogen?

Answer 23

Ovary

Question 24

Name the gland that secretes melatonin? (2 words)

Answer 24

Pineal gland

Question 25

Name the gland that secretes growth hormone? (1 word, but 15 letters)

Answer 25

Adenohypophysis

Question 26

Name the gland that secretes thyroxine?

Answer 26

Thyroid

Question 27

Name the gland that secretes insulin?

Answer 27

Pancreas

Question 28

Name the gland that secretes vasopressin? (1 word, but 15 letters)

Answer 28

Neurohypophysis

Question 29

Name the gland that secretes androgen?

Answer 29

Testis

Question 30

Name the glands that are located either side of the thyroid gland?

Answer 30

Parathyroid glands