The Endocrine System

adren/o

adrenal glands

gonad/o

gonads

testic/o

male: testicles

ovari/o

female: ovaries

pancreat/o

pancreas

parathyroid/o

parathryoid glands

pineal/o

pineal gland

pituit/o, pituitar/o

pituitary gland

thym/o

thymus

thyr/o, thyroid/o

thyroid gland

acr/o

extremities (hands and feet), top, extreme point

crin/o

secrete

-dipsia

thirst

glyc/o

glucose, sugar

-ism

condition, state of

poly-

many

somat/o

body

acromegaly

a rare hormonal disorder characterized by abnormal enlargement of the extremites caused by the excessive secretion of growth hormone after puberty

Addison’s disease

occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol or aldosterone

adrenalitis

inflammation of one or both of the adrenal glands

aldosteronism

an abnormality of the elctrolyte balance that is caused by the excessive secretion of aldosterone

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

is secreted by the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland and helps control blood pressure by reducing the amount of water that is excreted through the kidneys

calcitonin

is produced by the thyroid gland and is a hormone that works with the parathryoid hormone to decrease calcium levels in the blood and tissues by moving calcium into storage in the bones and teeth

corticosteroids

the steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex

cortisol

also known as hydrocortisone, is a corticosteroid that has an anti-inflammatory action

cretinism

a congenital form of hypothyroidism

Cushing’s syndrome

also known as hypercortisolism, is caused by prolonged high levels of cortisol

diabetes insipidus (DI)

is not related to diabetes mellitus, is an uncommon disorder caused by an insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone ADH or by the inability of the kidneys to respond appropriately to this hormone

diabetes mellitus (DM)

the most commone endocrine system disease, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in the body’s production of insulin (type 1) or its ability to use it properly (type 2)

diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

is a life-threatening diabetes complication caused by a buildup of acids in the blood

diabetic retinopathy

occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina

electrolytes

mineral substances—calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium—that are normally found in the blood and other bodily fluids

epinephrine (Epi, EPI)

also known as adrenaline, stimulates the sympathetic nervous system in response to physical injury or to mental stress such as fear

estrogen (E)

is a hormone secreted by the ovaries that is important for the development and maintenance of the female secondary sex characteristics and in regulation of the menstrual cycle

exophthalmos

an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball out of the orbit

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

stimulates the secretion of estrogen and the growth of ova in the ovaries of the female; in the male, it stimulates the production of sperm in the testicles

fructosamine test

measures average glucose levels over the previous three weeks

gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)

is a form of diabetes mellitus with onset occurring around the 24th week of approximately 2-10% of pregnancies in the US

gigantism

abnormal growth of the entire body that is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone before puberty

glucagon (GCG)

is the hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets in response to low levels of glucose in the bloodstream

glucose

the basic form of energy used by the body

Graves’ disease (GD)

is a disorder of unknown cause in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and stimulates it to make excessive amount of thyroid hormone

growth hormone (GH)

also known as the somatotropic hormone, regulates the growth of bone, muscle, and other body tissues

gyencomastia

the condition of excessive mammary development in the male

Hashimoto’s disease

is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own antibodies attack and destroy the cells of the thyroid gland

hypercalcemia

characterized by abnormally high concentrations of calcium circulation in the blood instead of being stored in the bones and teeth

hyperglycemia

an abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood

hyperinsulinism

the condition of excessive secretion of insulin in the bloodstream

hyperpituitarism

the excess secretion of growth hormone that causes both acromegaly and gigantism

hyperthyroidism

also known as thyrotoxicosis, is the overproduction of thyroid hormones

hypoglycemia

an abnormally low concentration of glucose in the blood

hypothyroidism

is caused by a deficiency of thyroid secretion

insulin

hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas islets in response to high levels of glucose in the bloodstream

insulinoma

a benign tumor for the pancreas that secretes additional insulin, causing hypoglycemia

ketosis

a normal metabolic process that helps the body utilize stored fat when other sources of energy are lacking

laparoscopic adrenalectomy

a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove one or both adrenal glands

leptin

a hormone secreted by fat cells that is involved in the regulation of appetite

luteinizing hormone (LH)

stimulates ovulation in the female; in the male, the luteinizing hormone stimulates the secretion of testosterone

myxedema

which is also known as adult hypothyroidism, is caused by an extreme deficiency of thyroid secretion

norepinephrine

both a hormone and a neurohormone; is released as a hormone by the adrenal medulla and as a neurohormone by the sympathetic nervous system

oxytocin (OXT)

stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth

pancreatitis

an inflammation of the pancreas

parathyroidectomy

the surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands, is performed to control hyperparathyroidism or the remove parathyroid tumors

pituitary adenoma

is a slow-growing benign tumor of the pituitary gland

polydipsia

excessive thirst

polyphagia

excessive hunger

polyuria

excessive urination

prediabetes

a condition in which the blood glucose level is higher than normal but not hight enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes

progesterone

the hormone released during the second half of the menstrual cycle by the corpus luteum in the ovary

prolactinoma

a benign functional pituitary tumor; causes the pituitary gland to produce too much of the lactogenic homrone known as prolactin

puberty

the process of physical changes by which a child’s body becomes an adult body that is capable of reproducing

radioactive iodine treatment (RAI)

is the oral administration of radioactive iodine to destroy thyroid cells

steroids

a large family of hormones derived from cholesterol

testosterone

a steroid hormone secreted by the testicles and the adrenal cortex to stimulate the development of male secondary sex characteristics

thymectomy

the surgical removal of the thymus gland

thymosin

plays an important part in the immune system by stimulating the maturation of lymphocytes into T cells

thyroxine

the two primary thyroid hormones regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of many other body systems; these are thyroxine and triiodothyronine

hormones

are chemical messengers that are secreted by endocrine glands directly into the bloodstream

pituitary gland

or hypophysis, is a pea-sized gland that is divided into two parts, the anterior and the posterior lobes; these lobes hang from a stalk-like structure located below the hypothalamus in the brain

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

stimulates the growth and secretions of the adrenal cortex

lactogenic hormone (LTH)

also known as prolactin, stimulates and maintains the secretion of breast milk in the mother after childbirth

melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)

increases the production of melanin in melanocytes, thereby causing darkening of skin pigmentation

thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

stimulates the secretion of hormones by the thyroid gland

pineal gland

is a very small endocrine gland that is located in the central portion of the brain and influences the sleep-wakefulness cycle; these secretions include melatonin

melatonin

influences the sleep-wakefulness portions of the circadian cycle

thyroid gland

lies on either side of the larynx, just below the thyroid cartilage; regulates the body’s metabolism

metabolism

describes all of the processes involved in the body’s use of nutrients, including the rate at which they are used

parathyroid glands

are each about the size of a grain of rice, are embedded in the posterior surface of the thryoid gland; regulate calcium levels in the body

parathyroid hormone (PTH)

works with the hormone calcitonin that is secreted by the thyroid gland; together they regulate the calcium levels in the blood and tissues

thymus

is located near the midline in the anteriod portion of the thoracic cavity, behind the sternum and lsightly above the heart; secretes a hormone that functions as part of the immune stystem, helping develop the body’s immune system before birth and inchildhood; after puberty, it slowly turns into fatty tissue

pancreas

is a feather-shaped organ located posterior to the stomach that functions as part of both the digestive and the endocrine systems; controls the blood glucose levels and glucose metabolism throughout the body

pancreatic islets

are those parts of the pancreas that have endocrine functions

islet

is a smal isolated mass, or island, of one type of tissue within a larger mass of a different type

adrenal glands

also called suprarenals as they are located on top of each kidney; consists of an outer portion known as the adrenal cortex, and the middle portion known as the adrenal medulla; controls electrolye levels withing the body

androgens

are sex hormones secreted by the gonads, the adrenal cortex, and fat cells

aldosterone (ALD)

is a corticosteroid that regulates the sodium and water levels in the body by increasing sodium reabsorption and potassium excretion by the kidneys

gonads

are the gamete-producing glands; are responsible for the development and maintanence of the secondary sex characteristics that develop during puberty

secondary sex characteristics

refer to features that distinguish the two sexes but are not directly related to production

precocious puberty

is the early onset of the changes of puberty, usually before age 8 in girls and age 9 in boys

gamete

is a reproductive cell