Endocrine system Flashcards
What are the 8 endocrine glands?
Pituitary gland
Pineal gland
Thyroid gland
Thymus gland
Adrenal gland
Pancreas
Ovaries
Testis
What are hormones?
Chemical signals produced in endocrine glands or tissues that travel in the bloodstream to cause an effect on other tissues
What is cortisol?
A steroid hormone that is released from the adrenal gland
What are the actions of cortisol?
Increased protein breakdown in muscle (catabolic)
Increased lipolysis in fat (catabolic)
Increased gluconeogenesis in liver (catabolic)
Resistance to stress
Anti-inflammatory effects
Depression of immune system
What is Cushing’s syndrome?
Chronic excessive exposure to cortisol
What is the external cause of Cushing’s syndrome?
Prescribed glucocorticoids (most common cause)
What are the endogenous causes of Cushing’s syndrome?
Benign pituitary adenoma (tumour)
Excess cortisol produced by adrenal tumour
Non pituitary-adrenal tumours producing ACTH (very rare)
What are the signs and symptoms on Cushing’s syndrome?
Plethoric moon-shaped face
‘Buffalo hump’
Abdominal obesity
Purple striae
Acute weight gain
Hyperglycaemia
Hypertension
What is Addison’s disease?
Chronic adrenal insufficiency
What are the causes of addison’s disease?
Main cause at the time of discovery was a complication of tuberculosis
Most common cause now is destructive atrophy from autoimmune disease - exact reason for autoimmunity is unknown
Rarer causes include fungal infection, adrenal cancer, adrenal haemorrhage
What are the signs and symptoms of Addison’s disease?
Postural hypotension
Lethargy
Weight loss
Anorexia
Increased skin pigmentation
Hypoglycaemia
Where is the thyroid gland?
Lies against and around front larynx and trachea
Below thyroid cartilage
Isthmus extended from 2nd to 3rd rings of the trachea
2 lobes joined by isthmus
‘Bow tie’ shape and location
Parathyroid and thyroid are distinct glands
What are the 2 main hormones produced by the thyroid gland?
T3 - tri-iodothyronine
T4 - thyroxine
T3
Secreted directly from the thyroid gland
Influences body metabolism
T4
Converted into T3 in tissues and cells
Iodine is essential for the formation of T3 and T4
TSH stimulates the release of T3 and T4
What are the functions of T3 and T4?
Essential for normal growth and development, especially of skeletal and nervous system
Most other organs and systems are influenced by thyroid hormones - heart, skeletal muscles, skin, digestive organs, reproductive organs
What is Hypothyroidism?
Underactive thyroid
Not enough thyroxine (T4) is produced for the body’s needs
Most common
What is hyperthyroidism?
Overactive thyroid
Too much thyroxine is produced for the body’s needs