Glossary Terms - Disorders Flashcards
acromegaly
Overgrowth of bone and soft tissue, especially in the hands, feet, and face, caused by an excess of growth hormone in an adult. The name comes from acro meaning “extremity” and megal/o meaning “enlargement”
Addison disease
A disease resulting from deficiency of adrenocortical hormones. It is marked by darkening of the skin, weakness, and alterations in salt and water balance
adult
hypothyroidism
A condition caused by hypothyroidism in an adult. There is dry, waxy swelling, most notable in the face; formerly called myxedema
Cushing disease
Overactivity of the adrenal cortex resulting from excess production of ACTH by the pituitary
Cushing syndrome
A condition resulting from an excess of hormones from the adrenal cortex. It is associated with obesity, weakness, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and hirsutism (excess hair growth)
diabetes insipidus
A disorder caused by insufficient release of ADH from the posterior pituitary. It results in excessive thirst and production of large amounts of very dilute urine. The word insipidus means “tasteless,” referring to the dilution of the urine
diabetes mellitus
A disorder of glucose metabolism caused by deficiency of insulin production or failure of the tissues to respond to insulin. Type 1 results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic islet cells; it generally appears in children and requires insulin administration. Type 2 generally occurs in obese adults; it is treated with diet, exercise, drugs to improve insulin production or activity, and sometimes insulin. The word mellitus comes from the Latin root for honey, referring to the sugar content of the urine
exophthalmos
Protrusion of the eyeballs, as seen in Graves disease
hyperglycemia
Excess glucose in the blood
ketoacidosis
Acidosis (increased acidity of body fluids) caused by an excess of ketone bodies, as in diabetes mellitus; diabetic acidosis
metabolic syndrome
A state of hyperglycemia caused by cellular resistance to insulin, as seen in type 2 diabetes, in association with other metabolic disorders; syndrome X or insulin resistance syndrome
panhypopituitarism
Underactivity of the entire pituitary gland
tetany
Irritability and spasms of muscles; may be caused by low blood calcium and other factors
adrenogenital syndrome
Condition caused by overproduction of androgens from the adrenal cortex, resulting in masculinization; may be congenital or acquired, usually as a result of an adrenal tumor
Conn syndrome
Hyperaldosteronism caused by an adrenal tumor
craniopharyngioma
A tumor of the pituitary gland
Hashimoto disease
A chronic thyroiditis of autoimmune origin
impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)
High blood glucose levels after glucose intake that may signal borderline diabetes mellitus
ketosis
Accumulation of ketone bodies, such as acetone, in the body. Usually results from deficiency or faulty metabolism of carbohydrates, as in cases of diabetes mellitus and starvation
multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN)
A hereditary disorder that causes tumors in several endocrine glands; classified according to the combination of glands involved
pituitary apoplexy
Sudden massive hemorrhage and degeneration of the pituitary gland associated with a pituitary tumor. Common symptoms include severe headache, visual problems, and loss of consciousness
Simmonds disease
Hypofunction of the anterior pituitary (panhypopituitarism), usually because of an infarction; pituitary cachexia (ka-KEK-sē-a)
thyroid storm
A sudden onset of the symptoms of thyrotoxicosis occurring in patients with hyperthyroidism who are untreated or poorly treated. May be brought on by illness or trauma. Also called thyroid crisis
thyrotoxicosis
Condition resulting from overactivity of the thyroid gland. Symptoms include anxiety, irritability, weight loss, and sweating. The main example of thyrotoxicosis is Graves disease
