Endocrine system Flashcards
Adren/o
adrenal glands
gonad/o
gonads
testic/o
male testicles
ovari/o
female ovaries
pancreat/o
pancreatic islets
parathyroid/o
parathyroid gland
peneal/o
pineal gland
pituit/o; pituitar/o
pituitary gland
thym/o
thymus
thyr/o; thyroid/o
thyroid gland
primary functions of the endocrine system include
homeostasis and hormones
homeostasis
process through which the body maintains constant internal environment
hormones
chemical messengers secreted by endocrin glands directly into the blood stream. Specialized functions in regulating the
activities of specific cells, organs, or both. Levels can be measured with blood or urine
tests
pituitary gland
Pea
‐sized gland divided into anterior and
posterior lobes
* Hangs from
a stalk
‐like structure below the
hypothalamus
function of pituitary glands
*Secretes hormones that control other
endocrine glands
* Responds to neurohormones secreted
by the hypothalamus
* Creates
a system of checks and
balances
* Maintains an appropriate blood level
of each hormone
Anterior Lobe
*Growth hormone
* LTH [Prolactin/Lactogenic Hormone] (to
stimulate milk production in the female
breast)
* ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone which
regulates the adrenal glands )
* TSH (thyroid‐stimulating hormone which
regulates the thyroid gland )
* FSH (follicle‐stimulating hormone which
regulates the ovaries and testes)
* LH (luteinizing hormone which regulates the
ovaries or testes
Posterior Lobe
ADH (antidiuretic hormone is actually
produced in the hypothalamus and stored
in the pituitary gland; it increases
absorption of water by the kidneys. It also
increases blood pressure)
* Oxytocin (to contract the uterus during
childbirth and stimulate the release of milk
during breastfeeding)
Pineal gland
- Very small endocrine gland; also known as
the pineal body - Located in the central portion of the brain
Secretions of the pineal glands
*Melatonin: influences the sleep–
wakefulness portions of circadian cycle
*Circadian cycle: biological functions
that occur within
a 24
‐hour period
thyroid
Lies on either side of the larynx,
just below the thyroid cartilage
Thyroids function
- Regulate the body’s metabolism
- Thyroxine (T
4) - Triiodothyronine (T
3) - Calcitonin
- Works with parathyroid
hormone - Decreases calcium levels
- Moves calcium into storage in
the bones and teet
PARATHYROID
GLANDS
*Four parathyroid glands
*Each of which is about the size of
a grain of
rice
*Embedded in the posterior surface of the
thyroid gland
main function of parathyroid glands
Regulate calcium levels throughout the bod
Parathyroid hormone (PTH)
*Works with calcitonin (hormone secreted by
the thyroid gland)
* Regulates the calcium levels in the blood and
tissue
Thymus
*Located near the midline in the anterior portion of
the thoracic cavity
* Secretes a hormone that functions as part of the
immune system
Function of thymus
Greatly reduced after puberty
* Slowly turns into fatty tissue
Thymosin
- Plays an important role in the immune
system - Stimulates the maturation of lymphocytes
into T cell
Pancreatic Islets
- Feather
‐shaped organ located posterior to the
stomach - Functions as part of both the digestive and the
endocrine systems
Pancreatic islet secretions
*Glucose: basic form of energy used by the
body
*Glucagon (GCG): hormone secreted by the
alpha cells
* Insulin: hormone secreted by the beta cells
Adrenal glands
*Located on top of each kidney
* Adrenal cortex (outer portion)
* Adrenal medulla (middle portion)
* Primary functions
* Control electrolyte levels
* Help regulate metabolism
* Interact with the sympathetic nervous system
Androgens
secreted by the adrenal glands; sex hormones secreted by the gonads, the
adrenal cortex, and fat cells
Corticosteroids
secreted by the adrenal glands. steroid hormones produced by the
adrenal corte
Aldosterone (ALD):
secreted by the adrenal glands. : corticosteroid that regulates the
sodium and water levels in the bod
Cortisol (hydrocortisone):
secreted by the adrenal glands; corticosteroid that has an
anti‐inflammatory action
Secretion of the adrenal medulla
epinephrine and norepinephrine
Epinephrine (Epi, EPI):
adrenaline; stimulates the
sympathetic nervous system
Norepinephrine
released as a hormone by adrenal
medulla; released as a neurohormone by sympathetic
nervous system; important for “fight‐or‐flight response
Gonads
*Gamete‐producing glands
* Ovaries in females and testicles in males
* Functions
* Secrete hormones for development and maintenance
of secondary sex characteristics
* Secondary sex characteristics: distinguish the sexes;
not directly related to reproduction
Estrogen(E)
SECRETIONS OF THE GONAD hormone secreted by the ovaries
Progesterone
SECRETIONS OF THE GONAD hormone released during second half of
menstrual cycle
Gonadotropin
SECRETIONS OF THE GONAD any hormone that stimulates the
gonad
Androgens
SECRETIONS OF THE GONAD sex hormones
testosterone
SECRETIONS OF THE GONAD steroid hormone secreted by the testicles
Specialized types of hormones
SECRETIONS OF THE GONAD Steroids: family of hormones derived from
cholesterol
* Anabolic steroids: human‐made substances;
chemically related to male sex hormones
Acromegaly
- abnormal enlargement of
extremities (hands and feet);
excessive secretion of growth
hormone after pubert
Gigantism
abnormal growth; excessive
secretion of growth hormone
before puberty
Short Stature
- general term used to describe
a condition in which a child or
a teen’s height is well below
the average height of his or
her peers
Prolactinoma
benign functional pituitary
tumor; can cause infertility
in women and erectile
dysfunction in me
Pituitary adenoma
slow‐growing benign tumor
of the pituitary gland
Galactorrhea
excess prolactin; causes
breasts to produce milk
spontaneously, not due
to childbirth
Diabetes Insipidus
not related to diabetes mellitus;
caused by insufficient production
of antidiuretic hormone
SIDH
overproduction of antidiuretic
hormone (ADH); often a result of
cancer or its treatment
Pinealoma
tumor of the pineal gland
Thyroid carcinoma
Thyroid cancer might not cause
any symptoms at first. But as it
grows, it can cause pain and
swelling in your neck.
Myxedema
- extreme deficiency of thyroid secretion
Thyroid storm
storm happens when your thyroid gland
suddenly releases large amounts of thyroid
hormone in a short period of time
Hashimoto’s Disease
immune‐system cells lead to the
death of the thyroid’s hormone‐
producing cells
Cretinism
congenital form of
hypothyroidism
Graves’ Disease
Goiter
* Abnormal benign
enlargement of thyroid
gland
* Swelling in front of the
neck
Exophthalmos
* Abnormal protrusion of
eyeball out of the orbit
Pancreatitis
- inflammation of the
pancreas
Insulinoma
tumors in the pancreas
Diabetes Mellitus
Most common endocrine system disease
Results from defects in production of
insulin (type 1) or ability to use it properly
(type 2)
Treatment goals: controlling blood glucose
levels and preventing complication
Type 1 diabetes
Autoimmune disorder
* Caused by destruction of pancreatic islet
beta cells; pancreatic beta cells do not
secrete enough insulin
Onset
* Often triggered by a viral infection
Treatment
* Diet and exercise
* Regulated insulin replacement therapy
(administered by injection or insulin pump)
Type 2 diabetes
*Insulin is being produced, but the body does not
use it effectively
*Might be asymptomatic for years
Treatment
*Diet, exercise, and oral medications
* Oral hypoglycemics
* Metformin
* Insulin replacement
Prediabetes
Blood glucose level is higher than normal
* Not high enough to be classified as type 2
diabetes
Diabetic Coma
Caused by very high blood glucose
(hyperglycemia) or very low blood
glucose (hypoglycemia) resulting in
stupor or a coma. DIABETIC EMERGENCIES
Insulin shock
Caused by very low blood glucose levels. DIABETIC EMERGENCIES.
Diabetic Retinopathy
causes blood to leak into
the posterior segment of
the eyeball and produces
the damage that causes the
loss of vision. DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS
Ketosis
- helps the body utilize
stored fat; excessively high
levels may indicate that the
body is not producing
enough insulin to convert
glucose into energy DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS
Kidney Disease
can lead to renal failure;
damage to blood vessels
reduces blood flow through
the kidneys DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS
Peripheral Neuropathy
damage to nerves makes it
harder to feel a cut or other
injury DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS
Addison’s disease
Adrenal glands do not
produce enough cortisol
or aldosterone
ADRENAL GLAND PATHOLOG
Adrenalitis
Inflammation of one or
both adrenal gland
ADRENAL GLAND PATHOLOG
Aldosteronism
- Abnormality of the
electrolyte balance - Caused by excessive
secretion of aldosterone
ADRENAL GLAND PATHOLOG
CUSHING’S SYNDROME
Caused by prolonged exposure to high
levels of cortisol. Fat hump on neck, red cheeks, thin legs big abdomen
Hypergonadism
- Condition of excessive
secretion of hormones by
the sex glands
Hypogonadism
*More common than
hypergonadism
* Deficient secretion of
hormones by the sex glands
Gynecomastia
- Condition of excessive mammary
development in the male - Increase in male estrogen levels or
decreased testosterone
Thyroid tests
*Radioactive iodine uptake test
*Thyroid-stimulating hormone assay
*Thyroid scan
Diabetes tests
*fasting Blood Sugar
* oral glucose tolerance test
*Home blood glucose monitoring
*Hemoglobin A1c testing
*Fructosamine test
Human Growth Hormone
synthetic version of growth
hormone
PITUITARY AND PINEAL GLAND;
Hypophysectomy
- surgical removal of the
pituitary gland
PITUITARY AND PINEAL GLAND
Pinealectomy
- surgical removal of the pineal
gland
PITUITARY AND PINEAL GLAND
Antithyroid drug
- slows the ability of the
thyroid gland to produce
thyroid hormones
Radioactive iodine
treatment
oral administration;
destroys thyroid cells
Lobectomy
removal of one lobe of the
thyroid gland
Synthetic thyroid
hormone
- use of synthetic thyroid
hormones; replaces lost
thyroid function
Parathyroidectomy
- Surgical removal of one or more of
the parathyroid glands - Performed to control
hyperparathyroidism or remove
parathyroid tumor
Thymectomy
Surgical removal of the thymus
gland
Pancreatectomy
Surgical removal of all or part of
the pancreas
* Total pancreatectomy: performed
to treat pancreatic cancer
Laparoscopic adrenalectomy
Minimally invasive surgical
procedure
Cortisone
Synthetic equivalent of
corticosteroids produced by the adrenal glands
EpiPen
Device used to inject a measured dose of epinephrine
