endocrinology Flashcards
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Pituitary gland(aka hypophysis)
It is known as the master gland because it regulates many body activities and stimulates other glands to secrete their own specific hormones.
Glucagon
Hormone produced by pancreatic alpha cells that increases the blood glucose level by stimulating the liver to change stored glycogen to glucose.
Insulin
Hormone produced by pancreatic beta cells that acts to remove glucose from the blood by promoting its storage in tissues as carbohydrates(glycogen)
Sympathometic(sim-pa-tho-mim-ET-ik)
Agent that mimics the effects of the sympathetic nervous system. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are sympathomimetic hormones because they produce effects that mimic those brought about by the sympathetic nervous system.
Target
Structure, organ or tissue to which a hormone exerts its specific effects.
Crin/o
Secrete
Ex. Endocrinology- study of the endocrine system.
Glycogenolysis
When liver converts stored glycogen to glucose
Glycos/o
Sugar
Ex. Glycosuria(gli-ko-SU-re-a)- abnormal amount of glucose in the urine.
Dipsia
Thirst
Ex. Polydipsia(pol-e-DIP-se-uh)- excessive thirst. One of the three “polys”( polyuria, and polyphagia) thats usually associated with diabetes.
-gen
Forming, producing, origin
Ex. Androgen- any steroid hormone that increases masculinization.
Myxedema
a condition characterized by thickening of the skin blunting of the senses and intellect and labored speech associated with hypothyroidism, low blood levels of t3 and t4, weight gain, fatigue, and depression.
Graves disease
the thyroid gets its production orders through a chemical called thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), released by the pituitary gland in the brain. But in Graves’ disease, a malfunction in the body’s immune system releases abnormal antibodies that mimic TSH. Spurred by these false signals to produce, the thyroid’s hormone factories work overtime and exceed their normal quota.
Exophthalmos (ex·oph·thal·mos
[ek-sof-thal-muh s, -mos
])
protrusion of the eyeball from the orbit caused by disease especially hyperthyroidism or injury
Cretinism
a congenital disease due to absence or deficiency of normal thyroid secretion characterized by physical deformity dwarfism and mental retardation and often by goiter
Goiter
an enlargement of the thyroid gland on the front and sides of the neck usually symptomatic of abnormal thyroid secretion especially hypothyroidism due to a lack of iodine in the diet
Toxic goiter
May occur because of excessive release of TSH of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.
Hyperparathyroidism
overactivity of the parathyroid gland characterized by softening of the bones with consequent pain tenderness and a tendency to spontaneous fractures and by muscular weakness and abdominal cramps. It’s commonly caused by a benign tumor.
Osteitis fibrosa cystica
A condition associated with hyperparathyroidism in which bone tissue is gradually replaced by cysts and fibers.
Adenoma
a benign tumor originating in a secretory gland
2.
a benign tumor of glandlike structure
Von recklinghausen disease
Is characterized by spots of increased skin pigmentation, combined with peripheral nerve tumors and a variety of others dysplastic abnormalities of the skin, nervous system, bones, endocrine organs and blood vessels.
Addison disease
In Addison’s disease, the adrenal glands don’t make enough of a hormone called cortisol, or less often, a related hormone called aldosterone. That’s why doctors sometimes call the illness chronic adrenal insufficiency, or hypocortisolism.
Cortisol’s most important function is to help the body respond to stress. It also helps regulate your body’s use of protein, carbohydrates, and fat; helps maintain blood pressure and cardiovascular function; and control inflammation. Aldosterone helps your kidneys regulate the amount of salt and water in your body – the main way you keep your blood pressure under control. When aldosterone levels drop too low, your kidneys cannot keep your salt and water levels in balance. This makes your blood pressure drop.
when Addison’s disease is the result of a problem with the adrenal glands themselves, it is called primary adrenal insufficiency. About 70% of the time, this happens because the body’s self-defense mechanism – the immune system – mistakenly attacks the adrenal glands.
Cushing syndrome
Cushing’s syndrome is a rare hormonal problem. It happens when there is too much of the hormone cortisol in your body.
Normally, cortisol levels increase through a chain reaction of hormones:
First, the hypothalamus in the brain makes a hormone called CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone).
Then, CRH tells the pituitary gland to make another hormone called ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone).
ACTH then tells the adrenal glands to make cortisol. Cortisol affects almost every area of the body. It is especially important in regulating blood pressure and metabolism.
But if your body makes too much cortisol-or if you take certain medicines that act like cortisol-you may start to have symptoms. Cushing’s syndrome may cause weight gain, skin changes, and fatigue. It can lead to serious problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and osteoporosis. If not treated, it can also cause death.
