Unit 4 Endocrine System

acromegaly

Enlargement of certain body parts, such as the hands, feet, and facial bones after the closure of the growth plates.

-megaly

enlargement

acr/o

extremity

adenoma

Benign tumor in the pituitary gland.

-oma

tumor; mass; fluid collection

aden/o

gland

dwarfism

Abnormally short stature that can be caused by partial or complete growth hormone deficiency.

-ism

condition

dwarf

something tiny

galactorrhea

A condition where there is an excessive production and discharge of milk from the breast in individuals who are not breastfeeding.

-rrhea

flow or discharge

galact/o

milk

gigantism

A rare condition typically caused by the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) during childhood or adolescence.

hyperpituitarism

A condition characterized by excessive secretion of one or more pituitary hormones.

hypopituitarism

A condition characterized by deficient hormone production by the pituitary gland.

panhypopituitarism

A condition where all pituitary hormone production is reduced or absent.

diabetes insipidus

A disorder of the pituitary gland characterized by intense thirst and by the excretion of large amounts of urine.

polydipsia

Excessive thirst.

polyuria

Excessive secretion of urine.

endocrinology

The branch of medicine that studies the production and regulation of hormones.

endocrine gland

Glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

exocrine gland

Glands that secrete substances through ducts to specific target areas.

cretinism

A condition of severely stunted physical and mental growth due to untreated deficiency of thyroid hormone during fetal development and infancy.

exophthalmos

Enlargement of the thyroid gland, typically due to iodine deficiency or certain thyroid disorders.

goiter

Enlargement of the thyroid gland, typically due to iodine deficiency or certain thyroid disorders.

Grave's disease

An autoimmune disorder characterized by the overproduction of thyroid hormones. It is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism.

hyperthyroidism

Excessive production of thyroid hormones leading to increased metabolic rate and symptoms like weight loss, rapid heartbeat, and heat intolerance.

hypothyroidism

A condition characterized by an underactive thyroid gland, resulting in insufficient production of thyroid hormones.

myxedema

A severe form of hypothyroidism characterized by dry and pale skin, puffy face, and slowed mental function.

thyroid carcinoma

A cancerous tumor originating from the cells of the thyroid gland.

thyrotoxicosis

Excessive circulating thyroid hormones, regardless of the cause. Symptoms include heat intolerance, palpitations, anxiety, fatigue, weight loss, muscle weakness, and, in women, irregular menses.

hypercalcemia

An excess of calcium in the blood.

hypocalcemia

A deficiency of calcium in the blood.

hypoparathyroidism

A condition characterized by insufficient production of parathyroid hormone.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

Recurrent major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern usually beginning in fall and continuing into winter months.

Melatonin

A hormone produced by the pineal gland that responds to darkness by causing sleepiness.

Hyperaldosteronism

Condition caused by excessive aldosterone, a steroid hormone made by the adrenal cortex that helps control the balance of water and salts in the kidney.

Addison's Disease

Primarily caused by autoimmune destruction of the adrenal glands, characterized by fatigue, weight loss, muscle weakness, low blood pressure, darkening of the skin, and salt craving.

Cushing's Syndrome

Characterized by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol, with symptoms including weight gain, thinning skin, easy bruising, muscle weakness, fatigue, and mood swings.

Hirsutism

Condition where women have thick, dark hair on their face, neck, chest, tummy, lower back, buttocks or thighs.

Virilism

The appearance of male secondary sex characteristics (such as facial hair) in the female.

Menopause

The natural cessation (stopping) of menstruation that usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. Triggered by hormonal changes.

-pause

A halt, stop, cessation.

men/o

Menstruation.

Precocious puberty

Early puberty, also called precocious puberty, is when girls have signs of puberty before 8 years of age and boys have signs of puberty before 9 years of age. Can come from hormonal imbalances that simulate the ovaries and testes.

Gynecomastia

A common condition that causes boys' and men's breasts to swell and become larger than normal. It is most common in teenage boys and older men.

-ia

Condition.

gynec/o

Woman.

mast/o

Breast.

fasting blood sugar (FBS)

A test used to find out if your blood sugar levels are in a healthy range. It is often used to help diagnose and monitor diabetes.

glucose tolerance test (GTT)

A lab test to check how your body moves sugar from the blood into tissues like muscle and fat. The test is often used to diagnose diabetes.

urine dipstick

A dipstick is a thin, plastic stick with strips of chemicals on it. A nurse or technician puts it into the urine sample. Then, its chemical patches will change color if the sample contains things like white blood cells, protein, or glucose.

adrenalectomy

Procedure to remove a diseased or cancerous adrenal gland. Adrenal glands help regulate your metabolism, immune system, blood pressure, response to stress and other essential functions.

parathyroidectomy

A surgery to remove the parathyroid glands or parathyroid tumors. The parathyroid glands are right behind your thyroid gland in your neck. These glands help your body control the calcium level in the blood.

thyroidectomy

A procedure used to excise (remove) the thyroid gland. It is a common procedure in modern medicine and may be used to treat malignancy, benign disease, or hormonal disease that is not responsive to medical management.

diabetes mellitus (DM)

Disease where your pancreas doesn't make insulin or makes very little insulin. Insulin helps blood sugar enter the cells in your body for use as energy. Without insulin, blood sugar can't get into cells and builds up in the bloodstream. High blood sugar is damaging to the body and causes many of the symptoms and complications of diabetes.

glycosuria

Excess of sugar in the urine.

hyperglycemia

Excess of sugar in the blood.

hypoglycemia

Abnormal decrease of sugar in the blood.

ketoacidosis

Resulting from increased levels of ketone bodies in the blood. Ketoacidosis occurs most commonly as a complication of diabetes but may occur from other causes (such as starvation).

polyphagia

Excessive appetite or eating.

nephropathy

Kidney disease (a complication of diabetes).

neuropathy

Damage, disease, or dysfunction of one or more nerves (a complication of diabetes).

retinopathy

Disorders of the retina including some that cause blindness (a complication of diabetes).