ENDOCRINE EMERGENCIES Flashcards
addisonian crisis
acute adrenal insufficiency
adrenal cortex
the outer part of the adrenal glands that produce corticosteroids
adrenal glands
paired glands located above the kidneys; each adrenal gland consists of an inner adrenal medulla and an adrenal cortex
adrenal medulla
the inner part of the adrenal glands that produces catecholamines epinephrine and norepinephrine
adrenocorticotropic hormone
hormone that targets the adrenal cortex to secrete cortisol which is a glucocorticoid
agonists
molecules that bind to a cell’s receptor and trigger a response by that cell. Agonists produce some kind of action or biologic effect
aldosterone
hormone that stimulates the kidneys to absorb sodium from the urine and excrete potassium by altering the osmotic gradient in the blood
androgens
male sex hormones that regulate body changes associated with sexual development like growth spurts deepening of the voice facial and pubic hair including muscle growth and strength
antagonists
molecules that bind to a cells’s receptor and block the action of agonists like hormone antagonists which are widely used in drugs
antidiuretic hormone
a hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland which constricts blood vessels and raises the blood pressure which is also known as vasopressin
the hormone secreted by the thyroid gland that helps maintain normal calcium levels in the blood
calcitonin
hormones produced by the adrenal medulla that assist the body in coping with physical and emotional stress by increasing the pulse and respiratory rates and the blood pressure
catecholamines
hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism, the balance of salt and water in the body, the immune system and sexual function
corticosteroids
hormone that stimulates most body cells to increase their energy production
cortisol
