Med Term Exam 5 > Endocrine System > Flashcards
Endocrine System Flashcards
Aden/o
gland
Adrenal/o
adrenal gland
Gonad/o
ovaries/testes
Pancreat/o
pancreas
Parathyroid/o
parathyroid hormone
Pituitar/o
pituitary gland
Thyr/o
Thyroid/o
thyroid gland
Calc/o
Calci/o
calcium
Crin/o
secrete
Dips/o
thirst
Gluc/o
Glyc/o
sugar
Kal/i
potassium
Natr/o
sodium
Phys/o
growing
-agon
assemble, gather together
-emia
blood condition
- in
- ine
substance
-tropin
stimulating in the function
-uria
urine condition
Eu-
good, normal
Hyper-
excessive
Hypo-
deficient
Oxy-
rapid, sharp acid
Pan-
all
Poly-
many, increased
Tetra-
four
Tri-
three
Secretes T3, T4, and calcitonin
Thyroid gland
T3 & T4
triiodothyronine & tetraiodothyronine; both support metabolic metabolism
Calcitonin
decreases serum calcium
4 oval bodies on posterior aspect of thyroid, secretes parathyroid hormone
Parathyroid gland
Parathyroid hormone
mobilizes calcium from bones into bloodstream
Adrenal glands
kidney “hat”, endocrine glands consisting of adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla which secrete different hormones
Adrenal cortex
Secretes glucocorticoids (cortisol), mineralocorticoids (aldosterone), and sex hormones (androgens/estrogens)
Cortisol
regulates glucose, fat, and protein metabolism
Aldosterone
regulates concentration of electrolytes (absorbs Na+ in kidney and excretes K+)
Adrenal medulla
secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine
Epinephrine
increases heart rate, blood pressure, dilates bronchial tubes and releases glucose
Norepinephrine
Constricts blood vessels to increase blood pressure
Anterior Pituitary
“Adenohypophysis”. Growth hormone, thyroid stimulating hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone, gonadotropic hormones (FSH, LH), prolactin
Posterior pituitary
“Neurohypophysis”. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH, vasopressin), oxytocin (OT).
The reaction to excess production of thyroid hormone. Signs/symptoms in adults include nervousness, increased sweating, weight loss, heat intolerance, palpitations. tachycardia, dyspnea, fatigue, weakness, increased appetite.
Hyperthyroidism
The most common form of hyperthyroidism. Autoimmune disease. Goiter and ophthalmopathy are common.
Graves’ disease
Hyperthyroidism that occurs later in life. Nodules are insidious and almost never malignant.
Toxic multinodular goiter
Hyperthyroidism stemming from a solitary nodule w/ autonomous function. Almost always benign.
Toxic uninodular goiter
Life threatening condition caused by hyperthyroidism which may cause heart failure, fever, and mania.
Thyroid storm
Clinical state resulting from decreased circulating levels of free thyroid hormone or from resistance to hormone action. Female>Male (5-10:1). Signs/symptoms may have subtle/insidious onset and include weakness, fatigue, lethargy, cold intolerance, decreased memory, hearing impairment, constipation, muscle cramps, arthralgias, modest weight gain (10lbs), menorrhagia, depression, hoarseness, carpal tunnel syndrome. Treated w/ thyroid hormone supplementation.
Hypothyroidism
Severe version of hypothyroidism. Signs/symptoms include dry, coarse skin, dull facial expression, coarseness or huskiness of voice, periorbital puffiness, swelling of hands & feet, bradycardia, hypothermia, reduced systolic BP, increased diastolic BP, reduced body/scalp hair, delayed relaxation of deep tendon reflexes, macroglossia.
Myxedema
Extreme hypothyroidism during infancy and childhood leading to a lack of normal physical and mental growth. Obese, short, and stocky child. Treat w/ thyroid supplementation.
Cretinism
Most common form of thyroid carcinoma (~60-70% of thyroid tumors). May be associated w/ radiation exposure. Tumor contains psammoma bodies.
Papillary carcinoma
~10-20% of thyroid tumors, incidence has been decreasing since the addition of dietary iodine. Usually occurs in females >40yo
Follicular carcinoma
A loss in control of the body’s normal regulatory feedback mechanism on the parathyroid glands and their ability to maintain a normal serum calcium. Calcium leaves the bones and enters the bloodstream leaving the bones susceptible to fractures. Signs/symptoms include “painful bones, renal stones, and abdominal groans”
Hyperparathyroidism
Deficiency of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Manifested as hypocalcemia producing neuromuscular symptoms ranging from paresthesias to tetany (constant muscle contraction). Common after thyroid surgery when the parathyroid is damaged during the procedure. Signs/symptoms include increased deep tendon reflexes, carpopedal spasms
Hypoparathyroidism
Hyperirritability of the facial nerve when tapped. Sign of hypoparathyroidism.
Chvostek’s sign
Carpopedal spasm within 2 minutes of inflating a blood pressure cuff over systolic pressure
Trousseau’s sign
Excessive output of adrenal androgens, can be caused by tumor in females. Symptoms include amenorrhea, hirsuitism, acne, deepening of the voice.
Adrenal virilism
Clinical abnormalities associated w/ chronic exposure to excessive amounts of cortisol (the major adrenocorticoid). Most frequent cause is prolonged use of exogenous glucocorticoids. Signs/symptoms include moon facies (facial adiposity), increased adipose tissue in neck and trunk, central weight gain, emotional lability, hypertension, osteoporosis, purple striae on the skin, glucose intolerance, muscle weakness, easy bruising.
Cushing syndrome
Adrenal hypofunction of the adrenal gland w/ inadequate secretion of glucocorticoids and mineralcorticoids. Autoimmune process in 80% of cases (followed by tuberculosis). Signs/symptoms include weakness, fatigue, tiredness, weight loss, dizziness, increased pigmentation, anorexia, N/V, chronic diarrhea, salt craving, hair loss, depression.
Addison disease
Acute complication of adrenal insufficiency. Circulatory collapse, dehydration, hypotension, N/V, hypoglycemia. Usually precipitated by acute physiologic stress.
Addisonian (adrenal) crisis
Catecholamine-producing tumor, most commonly found in the adrenal medulla. Signs/symptoms include paroxysmal spells (5 p’s). Treatment is surgical removal.
Pheochromocytoma
5 “P’s” of Paroxysmal spells
Pressure (sudden BP increase) Pain (headache, chest/abdominal pain) Perspiration Palpitation Pallor
Excess secretion of insulin causing hypoglycemia caused by a tumor of the pancreas or overdose of insulin. Fainting spells, convulsion & loss of consciousness are common.
Hyperinsulinemia
Lack of insulin secretion or resistance of insulin. Prevents sugar from leaving the blood and entering the body cells where it is used to produce energy. 2 major types
Diabetes mellitus
Childhood onset diabetes mellitus w/ destruction of the beta islet cells of the pancreas and deficiency of insulin. Treated w/ insulin.
Type 1
Adult onset diabetes mellitus, pt’s usually obese. Islet cells are not destroyed, deficiency of insulin secretion. Treatment w/ oral medications and occasionally also insulin.
Type 2
Disorder due to excessive secretion of pituitary growth hormone after puberty. Characterized by progressive enlargement of the head, face, hands, feet, and thorax. Usually caused by a pituitary adenoma.
Acromegaly
Excessive pituitary secretion occurring before puberty & before epiphyses close. Treatment is by surgery, irradiation, or bromocriptine.
Gigantism
Hypofunction of the anterior pituitary gland w/ decreased secretion of growth hormone. Children are normal mentally. Treatment is to administer growth hormone.
Dwarfism
Generalized condition caused by partial or total failure of the pituitary gland’s vital hormones (ACTH, TSH, LH, FSH, GH, prolactin). Signs/symptoms include decreased FSH & LH, secondary amenorrhea, impotence, infertility, decreased libido, diabetes insipidus, lethargy, headache, visual field defects, blindness. Treated w/ hormones.
Panhypopituitarism
Form of hyponatremia w/ inappropriately elevated urine osmolality and no discernible stimulus for ADH release. Total body sodium levels may be normal or near normal, total body water is usually increased. Treat w/ dietary water restriction. May be caused by tumors, drug reactions, & head injuries.
Syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH)
Defective regulation of water balance secondary to decreased secretion of, or failure of response to, vasopressin. Caused by tumors, infections or vascular disorders. Signs/symptoms include thirst, polydipsia, polyuria, nocturia, dehydration, headache, visual disturbances. Treated w/ DDAVP.
Diabetes insipidus
Fasting plasma glucose (FPG)
Vital component of diabetes management.
Possible causes of abnormal glucose metabolism
1) inability of pancreatic islet B cells to produce insulin
2) reduced numbers of insulin receptors
3) faulty intestinal glucose absorption
4) inability of the liver to metabolize glycogen
5) altered levels of hormones (i.e. ACTH) that play a role in glucose metabolism.
Thyroid function panel tests
T3 uptake, T3 total, Free T4, Total T4, Free thyroxine index, TSH.
Proper thyroid function
Take iodine from circulating blood, combine w/ tyrosine (amino acid) and convert it to thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Iodine composes ~2/3rds the weight of the thyroid hormones. T3 & T4 are stored in the thyroid until they’re released into the bloodstream under the influence of TSH from the pituitary. Only a small amount of hormones is not protein bound, however it’s the free portion of thyroid hormones that is the true determinate of the thyroid status of the patient.
Test to measure how far the eye protrudes from normal position. Evaluates severity of eye bulging which is usually caused by an overactive thyroid gland.
Exophthalmometry
Direct test of the function of the thyroid gland measuring the ability of the gland to concentrate and retain iodine. More useful in the diagnosis of hyperthyroidism than hypothyroidism.
Radioactive iodine uptake
Test to evaluate the size, position, and function of the thyroid. Used in the differential diagnosis of masses in the neck, base of the tongue, or mediastinum. Benign adenomas may appear as nodules of increased uptake of iodine (“hot” nodules”. Malignant areas generally take the form of “cold” nodules.
Thyroid scan
