Metabolic and Endocrine Flashcards
Key Functions of the Metabolic System
- governs the chemical and physical changes that take place in the body.
- Metabolism includes breakdown of body’s complex organic compound – generates energy for body processes and synthesis of complex substances that form tissues and organs.
- Catabolism – organic compounds are broken down
- Anabolism – combines simple molecules for tissue growth
Key Functions of the Endocrine System
- Endocrine glands that secrete hormones that travel through the body to specific target cells.
- Hormones bind selectively to specific receptor sites on the surface of receptor cells.
- Endocrine and Nervous system work in conjunction to maintain homeostasis (can work together or alone)
- They regulate: metabolism, response to stress, sexual reproduction, blood pressure, and water and salt balance
What are the glands of the endocrine system
Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland
Thyroid Gland
Parathyroid Glands
Adrenal Glands
Pancreas
Ovaries
Testes
Hypothalamus (as an endocrine gland)
*regulation of ANS
- Body temp, appetite, sweating, thirst, sexual behavior, rage, fear, BP, sleep)
- And other endocrine functions
*does this by its impact on the pituitary gland
Pituitary Gland
- Beneath the hypothalamus
- 2 parts: adenohypophysis (anterior) & neurohypophysis (posterior)
- Considered the most important part of the endocrine system. (the “master gland”)
- Secretes endorphins that act on the nervous system and reduce a person’s sensitivity to pain.
- Controls ovulation and works as a catalyst for testes and ovaries to create sex hormones
Thyroid Gland
- Produces thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
- Act to control rate at which cells burn the fuel from food
- Increase in thyroxine increases the rate of the chemical reactions within the body.
Parathyroid Glands
- Posterior surface of the thyroid’s lateral lobes
- Produces parathyroid hormone.
- Functions as an antagonist to calcitonin and important for maintenance of normal blood levels of calcium and phosphate.
- Parathyroid hormone increases the reabsorption of calcium and phosphate from bones to the blood.
- Stimulated by hypocalcemia
- Inhibited by hypercalcemia
- Normal clotting, neuromuscular excitability, and cell membrane permeability are depend on normal calcium.
Adrenal Glands
- Located on top of kidney
- Produces corticosteroids –
- Regulates water and sodium balance
- Body’s response to stress
- Immune system
- Sexual development and function
- Metabolism
- Adrenal medulla produces epinephrine that increases HR and BP when there is stress
Pancreas
- LUQ of abdomen
- Includes endocrine and exocrine glands
- Islets of Langerhans are the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas
- Alpha cell produce glucagon
- Beta cells produce insulin
Hormones Function, regulation, and secretion (Table on pg 524-525)
Aerobic metabolism:
The ATP producing metabolic processes that are dependent on oxygen transported via the circulatory system.
Aerobic metabolic functions typically provide energy for low intensity and/or longer duration activities.
Anabolism:
The metabolic process in which simple molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, polysaccharides, amino acids) are combined to create the complex molecules (e.g., proteins) needed for tissue and organ growth.
Anaerobic metabolism:
Metabolic functions that do not require the presence of oxygen and produce energy for high intensity, shorter duration activities.
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP):
The molecular unit within the body which transports the chemical compounds used for cellular metabolism.
Catabolism:
The metabolic process in which complex materials (e.g., proteins, lipids) are broken down in the body for the purpose of creating and releasing heat and energy.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid):
A double helix molecule that contains the genes that provide the blueprint for all of the structures and functions of a living being.
Metabolism:
The physical and chemical processes of cells burning fuel to produce and use energy. Examples include digestion, elimination of waste, breathing, thermoregulation, muscular contraction, brain function, and circulation.
Mitochondria:
The part of the cell that is responsible for energy production. The mitochondria are also responsible for converting nutrients into energy and other specialized tasks.
Osteopenia:
A condition presenting with low bone mass that is not severe enough to qualify as osteoporosis. Individuals with osteopenia may not have actual bone loss, but a naturally lower bone density than established norms.
Osteopetrosis:
A group of conditions characterized by impaired osteoclast function which causes bone to become thickened but fragile. Osteopetrosis is an inherited condition that can vary widely in symptoms and severity.
ph:
A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration in body fluid.
Addison’s Disease
- Adrenal dysfunction that presents with hypofunction of the adrenal cortex. (adrenal insufficiency)- Considered primary insufficiency
- Decreased production of both cortisol (glucocorticoid) and aldosterone (mineralocorticoid).
*Etiology
- When the adrenal cortex produces insufficient cortisol and aldosterone hormones
- autoimmune, infection, neoplasm, or hemorrhage
- Signs and symptoms
- Widespread metabolic dysfunction secondary to cortisol deficiency as well as fluid and electrolyte imbalances secondary to aldosterone dysfunction.
- Hyperpigmentation (typically 1st symptom to present) aka bronze skin
- Hypoglycemia
- susceptible to infections
- personality changes
- Hypotension
- Weakness, fatigue, myalgias
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- dehydration
- Diarrhea
- If left untreated this condition will result in shock and possible death.
- Treatment - Treatment primarily consists of long-term pharmacological intervention using synthetic corticosteroids and mineralocorticoids.
- Pt implications:
- slow progression of exercise and monitor vital signs
- Fall risk 2* to hypoglycemia and OH
- most common in females 30-50 y/o
Adrenal Crisis
Significant N/V
Confusion
Cyanotic
Abdominal symptoms: abdominal distention, pain, and tenderness
Cushing’s Syndrome
- Adrenal dysfunction that presents with hyperfunction of the adrenal gland, allowing for excessive amounts of cortisol (glucocorticoid) production.
*Etiology
- Pituitary gland produces excessive adreno-corticotropic hormone (ACTH) with subsequent hypercortisolism.
- Most common etiology is pituitary or adrenal gland tumor
- Or could also be excess of corticosteroid medication
- Females’ 25-40 y/o most common
- Signs and symptoms
- Evolve over years and can include:
- Persistent hyperglycemia,
- HTN
- OP
- Growth failure,
- Truncal obesity,
- Purple abdominal striae,
- “moon shaped face,”
- “buffalo hump” posteriorly at the base of the neck aka dorsocervical fat pad
- weakness,
- slender limbs
- acne,
- thinning of skin-straie
- Hair loss
- Bruise easily
- male gynecomastia.
- Mental changes can include depression, poor concentration, and memory loss.
- Treatment - Treatment may include pharmacological intervention to block the production of the hormones, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or surgery.
- PT implications:
- Caution 2* to impaired wound healing/bruise easily
- Closely monitor resistance exercises for m pain or increased weakness
- Slow progressive WB and precautions with mobilization 2* to OP.
- FYI Cushing’s disease is due to a pituitary tumor that results in the same stuff as above.