Endocrinology Flashcards
What is the function of the endocrine system?
Internal communication system utilizing chemicals called hormones
Explain how the negative feedback loop works in the endocrine system
Communication moves from endocrine organ to target tissues and back to endocrine organ
What are the endocrine organs and where are they located? (6)
- Pituitary gland - Brain
- Thyroid glands - Either side of trachea in the neck
- Parathyroid glands - “
- Adrenal glands - Next to kidneys
- Pancreas - Intersection of stomach & duodenum
- Ovary & Testes - Caudal to kidneys
Pituitary gland (or Hypophysis)
1. Function
2. Location
3. Role of anterior & posterior lobe
“Master Glands”
- Function
- Gives directions to other endocrine glands - Location
- Ventromidline of the brain - Roles:
- Anterior: Adenohypophysis
- Posterior: Neurohypophysis
Thyroid glands
1. Function
2. Hormone it produces
- Function
- Production of T3 & T4 (thyroxine)
+ Iodine containing hormones
+ Adjusts metabolic rate
- In response to TSH from P gland
- Production of calcitonin
+ Decreases blood Ca level
+ Stores Ca in the bone - Produces Thyroxine (T4) and Calcitonin
Hypothyroidism
1. Etiology
2. Clinical signs
- Function
- Thyroid atrophy or thyroiditis - Signs:
- Weight gain on stable diet
- Endocrine alopecia
- Lethargy
- Heat-seeking
T/F: Hypothyroidism is more common in cats than dogs
False! It is a common disease of dog, but uncommon in cats
Endocrine Alopecia
1. Clinical signs
2. Dx
3. Tx
- Signs
- Bilateral symmetric flank alopecia
- “Rat tail,” loss of volume in fur
- Hyperpigmentation
- Dry coat/excess shedding - Dx: Blood eval
- Tests of choice fT4 & TSH
- Mult thyroid axis may need to be eval together
- Thyroid eval tests: T4, fT4, TSH, & Thyroglobulin antibodies - Tx
- Thyroid replacement hormones for life
- Monitor closely w/blood tests
T4 & clinical signs w/o thyroid panel might lead to misdiagnose Euthyroid sick in regards to endocrine alopecia
- I’m not entirely sure what this means or what to do with it but it seems important
Euthyroid Sick is the body’s ___ response to sickness.
Lowering T4 in response to illness protects animals from ___ ___, ___ ___, & ____.
Animals sick with this should not be treated with ___ medication.
- Normal response to sickness
- Muscle wasting, weight loss, & hypertension
- Thyroid medication
T/F: If the primary problem that is causing euthyroid sickness gets resolved, the thyroid will return to normal
True!
Hyperthyroidism
1. Etiology
2. Clinical signs
- Etiology
- Functional thyroid adenoma tumor - Signs
- Weight loss with excellent appetite (polyphagia)
- Vocalizing/behavior change
- Tachycardia
- Thyroid nodule
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Hypertension
Hyperthyroidism
1. Dx
2. Therapy
- Dx
- Elevated T4
- Thyroid nodule
- Thyroid scintigraphy - Therapy
- Sx
+ Curative, although tend to not be good Sx candidates
- Methimazole
+ Monitor liver & bone marrow
- Radioactive Iodine
+ Curative
Pancreas
Endocrine vs Exocrine
Exocrine:
- Digestive enzymes
Endocrine:
- Insulin: Lowers blood sugar by moving sugar into cells
- Glucagon: Raises blood gluc by activating liver gluconeogenesis
Diabetes Mellitus defined
Inadequate secretion or utilization of insulin resulting in a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism