Endocrine System (Exam Two) Flashcards
How does Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) work?
- Stimulates the adrenal cortex to release glucocorticoids (cortisol)
- Acts on the adrenal gland
The Adrenal Medulla releases what hormones?
HINT: MEN
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine
What effect do Epinephrine and Norepinephrine have on the body?
- Act on alpha one, beta one and beta two receptors
- Increase the heart rate, increase the force of cardiac contraction, bronchodilation, vasoconstriction of peripheral arteries, vasodilates skeletal muscle arterioles, tells the liver to convert glycogen to glucose for energy (increased blood sugar)
When are Epinephrine and Norepinephrine released?
Released during stressful times (flight or fight) to manage stress response and keep body safe
The Adrenal Cortex releases what hormones?
It releases corticosteroids, which include:
- Glucocorticoids (Cortisol)
- Mineralocorticoids (Aldosterone)
- Gonadocorticoids (Androgens)
What two hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex are essential for life?
- Glucocorticoids (Cortisol)
- Mineralocorticoids (Aldosterone)
What tropic hormone is released to promote the release of Cortisol from the Adrenal Cortex?
Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
What is the target organ of Mineralocorticoids (Aldosterone)?
Kidneys
What body systems are affected by Glucocorticoids (Cortisol)?
All of them
What does Glucocorticoids (Cortisol) do for the body?
Provides energy sources to the body during stress (because it tells the liver to convert glycogen to glucose)
What organ is both an endocrine and exocrine gland?
Pancreas
What hormones does the Pancreas synthesize and release?
- Insulin
- Glucagon
Where do beta and alpha cells live within the Pancreas?
Islet of Langerhans
What are the three causes of endocrine disorders?
- Overproduction of hormones
- Underproduction of hormones
- Side effects of certain drugs
What is a primary endocrine disorder?
Something is wrong with the actual gland
What is a secondary endocrine disorder?
- Problems outside of the gland
- Something is wrong with a different gland or organ
What does Mineralocorticoids (Aldosterone) do for the body?
-Regulates sodium and potassium balance
What is Cushing Syndrome?
- Hypersecretion of cortisol levels in the blood
- Can affect aldosterone and androgens
What causes Cushing Syndrome?
- Chronic exposure to excess corticosteroids
- Exogenous corticosteroid administration
What is Cushing Disease?
- Specific type of Cushing Syndrome
- Hypersecretion of cortisol throughout the day regardless of time/event
What are the two types of Cushing Disease? What causes them?
- Pituitary Cushing Disease is caused by hypersecretion of ACTH in pituitary gland causing adrenal gland to secret too much cortisol
- Adrenal Cushing Disease is caused by problem in the adrenal cortex (only involves one adrenal gland)
Is Cushing Syndrome or Cushing Disease more prevalent?
Cushing Syndrome
What are the signs and symptoms of Cushing Syndrome?
- Weight gain
- Truncal/generalized obesity
- Thin arms and legs
- Moon face
- Buffalo Hump
- Muscle wasting/weakness
- Hyperglycemia
- Type II Diabetes
- Osteoporosis
- Loss of collagen (i.e. striae, wrinkles)
- Immunosuppression
- Increased risk for infection
- Irritability, anxiety, euphoria, psychosis
What causes a moon face and buffalo hump in patients with Cushing Syndrome?
Excess deposit of adipose tissue
What are the signs and symptoms of mineralocorticoid (aldosterone) excess in relation to Cushing Syndrome?
- Salt and water retention
- Hypokalemia
- Hypertension
- Bounding pulses
What are the signs and symptoms of adrenal androgen excess in relation to Cushing Syndrome?
- Acne
- Amenorrhea (loss of period)
- Virilization in women (manly facial hair)
What should the nurse initially assess in a patient with Cushing Syndrome?
- History and physical exam
- Vital signs
- Mental status examination
- Laboratory tests
What are the treatment options for patients with Cushing Syndrome?
- Surgery or radiation
- Reducing, tapering dose of steroids
What nursing management do you want to provide for a patient with non-surgical Cushing Syndrome?
- Fluid overload!
- Assess skin
- Hand washing
- Safety
- Drug therapy
- Education
What nursing management do you want to provide for a patient with surgical Cushing Syndrome?
- Pre-op care
- Post-op care
- Assess for shock
- Monitor I&O’s, weight, electrolytes
- Monitor for Acute Adrenal Insufficiency
- Education on hormone replacement therapy
- Avoid extreme temperatures, infection, stress
What must a patient, undergoing an adrenalectomy, be treated with before, during, and after surgery?
IV steroids (i.e. hydrocortisone)
What is Addison’s Disease?
- Insufficient productions of the hormones of the adrenal cortex
- Typically a deficiency in cortisol
- Can also be deficiency in aldosterone or androgens
What are the primary causes of Addison’s Disease?
- Autoimmune
- Bilateral adrenalectomy
What are the secondary causes of Addison’s disease?
- Pituitary or hypothalamus problems
- Abrupt discontinuance of long-term steroids
What are the signs and symptoms of Addison’s Disease?
HINT: Opposite of Cushing’s Syndrome
- Hypotension
- Dizziness
- Progressive weakness
- Fatigue, weakness, confusion
- Weight loss
- Anorexia
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Skin changes (hyperpigmentation)
- Hypovolemia
- Hypoglycemia
- Hyponatremia
- Hyperkalemia
- Irritability
- Depression
What causes hyperpigmentation in patients with Addison’s disease?
Increase in Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
What are the treatment options for patients with Addison’s disease? What patient education must you provide?
- Lifelong hormone therapy (i.e. hydrocortisone or prednisone)
- Need to take steroids at the same time each day
What nursing interventions should you provide for a patient with Addison’s disease?
- Correct fluid and electrolyte imbalance
- Daily weights
- Administer corticosteroids
- Cardiac monitor
- Assess for s/sx of Addisonain Crisis or Cushing’s Syndrome
- Provide patient education regarding diet, stress management, heat, and important of taking medication at the same time
What education should you provide to a patient with Addison’s disease?
- High Sodium/ Low Potassium diet
- Stress management
- Heat (sweating=losing sodium)
- Need to take medication at the same time each day
What is an Addisonian Crisis (Acute Adrenal Insufficiency)? What causes it?
- Life-threatening, EMERGENCY!
- Insufficient levels of cortisol and aldosterone
- Caused by a stressful event or sudden, sharp decrease in hormones (i.e. adrenalectomy)
What are the signs and symptoms of an Addisonian Crisis?
HINT: Think Addisons Disease s/sx to a severe state
- Fluid volume deficit
- Hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, hyperkalemia
- Shock
- Lethargy
- Coma
- Death
What is the highest priority nursing intervention with an Addisonian Crisis?
-High-dose of IV hydrocortisone replacement (highest priority!)
Why would a patient be prescribed corticosteroid therapy?
- Relieve signs and symptoms of chronic conditions
- Decreased endogenous cortisol production /secretion
True or False: Treatment benefits must outweigh the risks of taking a corticosteroid
True
Patients on corticosteroid therapy are at an increased risk for what?
- Infection
- Osteoporosis
- GI ulcerations
- Fluid/electrolyte imbalances
- Cushing’s Syndrome
Corticosteroid therapy should not be…
- Used long-term
- Stopped abruptly
Hyperaldosteronism is also known as what?
Conn’s Syndrome
What is hyperaldosteronism?
-Rare hypersecretion of aldosterone
What are signs and symptoms of hyperaldosteronism?
- Hypernatremia
- Hypokalemia
- Metabolic alkalosis
- Increased fluid volume
What are the treatment options for hyperaldosteronism?
- Surgery
- Spironolactone therapy
What is pheochromocytoma? What does it cause?
- Rare condition caused by a tumor in adrenal medulla
- Causes an excess production of catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine)
What is the priority nursing concern for a patient with pheochromocytoma?
Severe episodic hypertension accompanied by severe pounding headache, tachycardia with palpitations, severe sweating, and unexplainable abdominal or chest pain
-Can last minutes or hours
What are the signs and symptoms of pheochromocytoma?
- Severe episodic hypertension
- Palpitations
- Tremors
- Diaphoresis
- Anxiety
What diagnostic tests are associated with pheochromocytoma?
- CT/MRI
- 24 Hour urine
What are the treatment options for patients with a pheochromocytoma?
- Surgery/Tumor removal
- Medical management
What specific cells secrete insulin?
Beta cells
What specific cells secrete glucagon?
Alpha cells
What specific cells secrete somatostatin?
Delta cells
When ____ cells are destroyed, insulin cannot be synthesized
Beta
When is insulin released by the Pancreas?
When glucose levels are elevated (hyperglycemia)
How does insulin work within the body?
- It opens the cells and allows glucose to travel inside of the cells
- The cells can then use glucose for energy
Without insulin, what happens to the cells?
- They starve
- Glucose cannot get inside of the cells and the cells do not have glucose to use as energy
When is glucagon released by the Pancreas?
When glucose levels are decreased (hypoglycemia)
How does glucagon work within the body?
- Glucagon stimulates the liver to convert glycogen to glucose
- Glucose is the usable form of energy for the cells
What type of disease is Type One Diabetes Mellitus classified as?
- Autoimmune disease
- Body attacks beta cells (that live within the Islet of Langerhans in the Pancreas)
- When beta cells are all killed off, insulin can not be synthesized any longer
What are the two possible reasons the body is intolerant to glucose?
- Pancreas has developed faulty production of insulin
- Tissues have become insensitive to the insulin
What does a Type One Diabetic patient need to survive?
- Exogenous insulin administration daily for life
- Have to have insulin!!!
What is the most prevalent form of Diabetes Mellitus?
Type Two
Explain what happens within the body in Type Two Diabetes Mellitus
- Still capable of insulin synthesis, BUT insulin secretion is impaired
- Beta cells are decreased
- Beta cells aren’t as responsive when glucose levels are elevated, therefore they will not release as much insulin as quickly
- The tissues within the body become resistant to insulin
What is diabetes mellitus?
-Disorder of carbohydrate (glucose) metabolism
What is ketoacidosis (DKA)? What are the signs and symptoms?
- Body breaks down fat for energy (because there is no insulin) creating ketones, which leads to metabolic acidosis
- Primarily occurs in Type One Diabetes Mellitus
- Fruity breath
- Kussmaul respirations
- Polyuria
- Polydipsia
- Nausea/Vomiting
- Coma
- Death
What are the risk factors for Diabetes Mellitus Type Two? How can Type Two Diabetes Mellitus be controlled?
-Genetics, obesity, sedentary lifestyle
- Through proper diet and exercise (weight loss)
- Oral medications
- Insulin