Endocrine system disorders

Question 1

What are non-secretory tumours of the pituitary gland?

Answer 1

Inadequate hormone secretion.

Question 2

What are secretory tumours of the pituitary gland?

Answer 2

Excess hormone secretion.

Question 3

Causes for hyposecretion.

Answer 3

-head injury
-surgery
-radiation
-autoantibodies

Question 4

Name 3 anterior pituitary gland disorders, relating to growth hormones.

Answer 4

Gigantism in children.
Acromegaly in adults.
Dwarfism.

Question 5

Describe gigantism.

Answer 5

Overreactive gland secretion of GH in children.
Overgrowth of long bones in children before the age where the epiphyses of the bone closes.

Question 6

Describe acromegaly.

Answer 6

Overreactive gland secretion of GH in adults.
Excessive amounts of GH released after the epiphyses in bones are closed.

Potential causes; pituitary tumour (95%), ectopic GH secreting tumour (5%).

Symptoms;
- overgrown and thickening of soft tissues causing coarsening facial features
- swelling of hands and feet (acromegaly)
- protruding jaw
- enlargement of internal organs

Question 7

Describe dwarfism.

Answer 7

Inadequate secretion of GH in children. Growth retardation at age 2-3 yrs after birth.

Question 8

Give an example of a posterior pituitary gland disorder.

Answer 8

Diabetes insipidus.

Question 9

Describe diabetes insipidus.

Answer 9

Insufficient secretion of ADH.

Cause; head injury, infection and other factors that can lead to the destruction of the gland.

Symptoms;
- large vol. of very dilute urine
- severe thirst
- blurry vision
- dehydration

Question 10

Give 2 examples of benign pituitary tumours.

Answer 10

Pituitary adenoma and prolactinoma (common and secretes large amounts of prolactin).

Question 11

What is hypothyroidism?

Answer 11

Underactive thyroid gland which secretes inadequate amounts of thyroid hormones.
Blood TSH is usually high in primary hypothyroidism.

Question 12

Give 4 disorders that causes hypothyroidism.

Answer 12

• goitre
• cretinism in children
• myxoedema in adults
• Hashimotos thyroditis

Question 13

Describe goitre.

Answer 13

Swelling of the glands causing neck to grow a lump. Blood TSH is high.

Common cause is iron deficiency.

Question 14

Describe cretinism.

Answer 14

Inadequate secretion of thyroid hormones in children due to iron deficiency.

Symptoms;
- mental retardation
- short stature
- coarse/dry facial features
- protruding tongue
- umbilical hernia

Question 15

Describe myxoedema.

Answer 15

Inadequate secretion of thyroid hormones in adults.

Symptoms;
- oedematous appearance (puffy face)
- fatigue
- obesity
- dry thick skin
- thin brittle hair
- mental impairment (low mood)

Question 16

Describe Hashimotos thyroiditis.

Answer 16

Common cause for hypothyroidism.

Cause; autoantibodies binding and blocking thyroid stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) on the thyroid follicular cells which leads to the production of thyroid hormones.

Symptoms;
- goitre
- cold intolerance
- fatigue and muscle weakness
- weight gain due to reduced metabolic rate

Question 17

What is hyperthyroidism and give a disorder relating to it?

Answer 17

The excess production of thyroid hormones.

Graves’ disease.

Question 18

Describe Graves’ disease.

Answer 18

Autoimmune disease where excessive amounts of thyroid hormones are produced.

Cause; autoantibodies mimick the effect of TSH on the gland which stimulates thyroid hormones synthesis and secretion.

Symptoms;
- increased body metabolic rate
- weight loss despite appetite increase
- promenade eyes (bulging eyes)
- heat tolerance and sweating

Question 19

Describe the disorder relating to the underproduction of calcitonin hormone.

Answer 19

• increased blood calcium
• decreased bone calcification leading to osteoporosis (brittle bones)
• kidney stones

Question 20

Describe the disorder relating to the overproduction of calcitonin hormone.

Answer 20

• increased bone calcification
• decreased blood calcium
• tetany (muscle spasm/cramps)

Question 21

Describe what ‘Underactive adrenal gland’ means.

Answer 21

Less hormones are produced by the adrenal gland. Can either be acute or chronic.

Question 22

What is primary Underactive adrenal gland?

Answer 22

Intrinsic failure of adrenal gland resulting in the inability to produce coristol and/or aldosterone.

Eg. Surgical removal of adrenal gland; infection of adrenal glands
- blood ACTH level is high

Question 23

What is secondary Underactive adrenal gland?

Answer 23

Cause; disease of hypothalamus and/or pituitary gland or long use of steroids
- blood ACTH level is low

Question 24

Give and describe a disease relating to primary Underactive adrenal gland.

Answer 24

Addisons disease.

The inadequate secretion of coristol and/or aldosterone.
- lots of ACTH released
- lots of ACTH causes melanocytes in skin, causing hyperpigmentation

Cause;
- autoimmune disease (common)
- surgical removal of glands
- infections of glands

Symptoms;
- loss of appetite and unintentional weight loss
- low blood glucose and sodium levels
- low blood pressure
- lack of tolerance to stress

Question 25

What are the 3 substances the hyperactive adrenal gland releases?

Answer 25

Hyperaldosteronism is when the gland releases too much ALDOSTERONE.

Pheochromocytoma is when the gland releases excessive amounts of CATECHOLAMINES (adrenaline and noradrenaline).

Cushings syndrome is when the gland produces excessive amounts of CORISTOL (risk of high blood pressure and heart attack/stroke).

Question 26

Describe Cushing’s syndrome.

Answer 26

Hypersecretion of coristol.

Cause;
- anterior pituitary tumour (60%)
- lung cancer (5%)
- prolonged use of glucocorticoid medication (eg. Prednisolone)
- benign adrenal tumours (adenoma)
- adrenal cancer.

Symptoms;
- osteoporosis
- causes insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus
- wound healing abilities reduced
- swollen ankles
- hirsutism (excessive thick hair on women’s chest, lower abdomen, thigh, forearm, upper lip, and chin)
- round red face (moon face)
- increased blood pressure
- thin arms and legs due to muscle wasting

Question 27

Describe type 1 diabetes. Young.

Answer 27

Deficiency in insulin because pancreas does not produce insulin, Glucose levels in blood remain high.

Due to autoimmune destruction of insulin producing B cells in pancreas.

Insulin is used to treat.

Aetiology; may be viral, environmental, and/or genetic.

Symptoms develop suddenly.

Prone to ketoacidosis.

Question 28

Describe type 2 diabetes. Old.

Answer 28

Insulin made but body cells do not respond to it because target cells become resistant and dont respond to insulin. Glucose unable to be used by cells despite high levels of glucose.

Usually appears after age 40 but obesity can affect how soon.

Aetiology; genetic and lifestyle

Complications;
- accelerated atherosclerosis
- micro vascular disease lead to nephropathy and retinopathy
- autonomic dysfunction
- demyelination of nerve cells

Question 29

Describe hypoglycaemia.

Answer 29

Low blood glucose levels which affects functions of the CNS.

Sudden symptoms;
- excessive sweating
- pallor (pale skin)
- tremor (shakey hands)
- fast heart rate
- visual disturbances
- mental confusion
- weakness

Gradual symptoms;
- fatigue
- confusion
- headaches
- memory loss
- seizure
- coma

Spontaneous cause;
- alimentary
- new onset type 2 diabetes
- idiopathic hypoglycaemia
- fasting
- islet cell tumour
- hepatic disease

Induces cause;
- insulin induced
- oral hypoglycaemic agent