Endocrine disease (pathology) Flashcards
endocrine gland
one whose secretions pass directly into the bloodstream
hormones
influence target organs by binding to receptors(cell surface or intracellular)
exocrine gland
secretions pass into the gut, respiratory etc
feedback mechanism
mechanisms in which body organs act based on the stimulatory or inhibitory effect of the hormones from the brain
clinical symptoms due to endocrine disease
1) underproduction/non functioning
2) over production
3) mass/nodules
- benign or malignant
what is the adrenal cortex made up of
- zona golmeruloa (aldosterone production)
- zone fasciculata (produce cortisol)
- zona reticularis (androgenic steroids)
what does the medulla of adrenals do
produce stress hormones (adrenaline and noradrenalin
common pathology of the adrenal gland
atrophy
normal
hyperplasia
diagnostic tools of adrenal gland - what can we use to monitor
24 hour urinary cortisol
adrenal cortical insufficiency causes
secondary - disease of the pituitary or hypothalamus
primary
- adrenal disease (developmental, haemorrhage necrosis etc)
effects of adrenal insufficiency
1) skin pigmentation
2) hypotension
3) muscle weakness
4) hypoglycaemia
5) hyponatraemia
adrenal overactivity can cause
cushings syndrome/disease
conns syndrome
adrenogenital syndrome
effects of Cushing syndrome
obesity
hypertension
osteoporosis
hyperglycaemia
adrenal cortical carcinoma vs adenoma
adenoma :well defined mass/benign
carcinoma: abnormal cells and abnormal nuclei in the cells
pheochromocytoma
tumour adrenal medulla
cells have large nuclei, in clusters
