the endocrine system words and word parts

acr/o

extremities (hands and feet), top, extreme point

adren/o

adrenal glands

crin/o

secrete

-dipsia

thirst

glyc/o

glucose, sugar

gonad/o

gonad, sex glands

-ism

condition, state of

pancreat/o

pancreas

parathyroid/o

parathyroid glands

pineal/o

pineal gland

pituitar/o

pituitary gland

poly-

many

somat/o

body

thym/o

thymus gland

thyr/o, thyroid/o

thyroid gland

acromegaly

A rare chronic disease characterized by abnormal enlargement of the extremities (hands and feet) caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone after puberty.

addison’s disease

A condition that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol or aldosterone.

adrenalitis

inflammation of the adrenal glands

aldosteronism

An abnormality of electrolyte balance caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone

antidiurectic hormone

The hormone that helps control blood pressure by reducing the amount of water that is excreted through the kidneys.

calcitonin

A hormone that works with the parathyroid hormone to decrease calcium levels in the blood and tissues.

Conn’s syndrome

A disorder of the adrenal glands due to excessive production of aldosterone.

cortisol

A hormone that has an anti-inflammatory action; it also regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the body.

cretinism

A congenital form of hypothyroidism that, if not treated soon after birth, causes arrested physical and mental development

cushing’s syndrome

A condition caused by the overproduction of cortisol by the body or by taking corticosteroids to treat inflammatory diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis; also known as hypercortisolism.

diabetes insipidus

A condition caused by insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or by the inability of the kidneys to respond to ADH.

diabetes mellitus

A group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both.

diabetic retinopathy

Injury to the eye that occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina of the eye.

electrolytes

Mineral substances, such as sodium and potassium, normally found in the blood.

epinephrine

A hormone that stimulates the sympathetic nervous system in response to physical injury or to mental stress such as fear; also known as adrenaline.

estrogen

A hormone with an important role in the development and maintenance of the female secondary sex characteristics and the regulation of the menstrual cycle.

exophthalmos

an abnormal protrusion of eyeball out of the orbit

follicle-stimulating hormone

The hormone that stimulates the secretion of estrogen and the growth of ova (eggs) in the ovaries of the female. In the male, it stimulates the production of sperm in the testicles (testes).

fructosamine test

A blood test that measures average glucose levels over the past 3 weeks

gestational diabetes mellitus

The form of diabetes that occurs during some pregnancies.

gigantism

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

glucagon

the hormone that increases the amount of glucose in the bloodstream by stimulating the liver to convert glycogen into glucose

glucose

The basic form of energy used by the body; also known as blood sugar.

graves’ disease

A disorder of unknown cause in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and stimulates it to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, resulting in hyperthyroidism.

growth hormone

The hormone that regulates the growth of bone, muscle, and other body tissues.

gynecomastia

The condition of excessive mammary development in the male.

hashimoto’s disease

An autoimmune disease in which the body's own antibodies attack and destroy the cells of the thyroid gland.

hypercalcemia

Abnormally high concentrations of calcium circulating in the blood instead of being stored in the bones and teeth.

hyperglycemia

an abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood

hyperinsulinism

a condition marked by excessive secretion of insulin in the bloodstream

hyperpituitaryism

The excessive secretion of growth hormone that causes acromegaly and gigantism.

hyperthyroidism

The overproduction of thyroid hormones, which causes an imbalance of metabolism.

hypoglycemia

an abnormally low concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood

hypothyroidism

A deficiency of thyroid secretion; also known as underactive thyroid.

insulin

The hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets in response to high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Its function is to allow glucose to enter cells for energy or to stimulate the liver to convert glucose to glycogen for storage.

insulinoma

A benign tumor of the pancreas that causes 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 procedure to surgically remove one or both adrenal glands.

leptin

A protein hormone secreted by fat cells that is involved in the regulation of appetite.

luteinizing hormone

The hormone that stimulates ovulation in the female and production of the female sex hormone progesterone. In the male, it stimulates the secretion of testosterone.

myxedema

A severe form of adult hypothyroidism.

norepinephrine

A combination of a hormone and a neurohormone that plays an important role in the "fight-or-flight response.",

oxytocin

Hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth.

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas

parathyroidectomy

The surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands.

pituitary adenoma

One of two types of slow-growing, benign tumors of the pituitary gland that may or may not cause excess hormone secretion.

polydipsia

excessive thirst

polyphagia

excessive hunger

polyuria

excessive urination

prediabetes

A condition in which the blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.

progesterone

This hormone, whose function is to complete the preparation of the uterus for pregnancy, is released during the second half of the menstrual cycle by the corpus luteum in the ovary.

prolactinoma

A benign tumor of the pituitary gland that causes the gland to produce too much 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

The oral administration of radioactive iodine to destroy thyroid cells.

steroids

A large family of hormonelike substances that share the same fat-soluble chemical structure.

testosterone

A steroid hormone secreted by the testes and the adrenal cortex that stimulates the development of male secondary sex characteristics.

thymectomy

The surgical removal of the thymus gland.

thymitis

Inflammation of the thymus gland.

thymosin

Hormone secreted by the thymus gland that stimulates the maturation of lymphocytes into T cells of the immune system.

thyroxine

One of the primary hormones secreted by the thyroid gland that regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of other body systems.

hormones

–Chemical messengers

–Regulate activities of specific cells and organs

pituitary gland

•Located below hypothalamus in the brain

Secretes hormones that control the activity of other endocrine glands

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

–Helps control blood pressure by reducing amount of water excreted through kidneys

oxytocin (OXT)

–Stimulates flow of milk from mammary glands

–Stim. uterine contractions during childbirth

pineal gland

•Located in the central portion of the brain

•Functions and Secretions

–controls sleep-wakefulness cycle (aka. circadian cycle) by secreting melatonin

thyroid gland

Functions:

Regulates metabolism

Influences growth and functioning of nervous system

Secretions: Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3), calcitonin - regulates Ca++ level

parathyroid glands

•4 glands embedded in the posterior surface of thyroid gland

•Functions

–Regulate calcium levels

•Secretions

–Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) - Works with calcitonin

thymus

•Located near midline in anterior portion of thoracic cavity;

•Functions

–Helps to develop immune system before birth and in childhood

–function ↓ after puberty

•Secretions

Thymosin

pancreas

•Function as a part of digestive as well as endocrine system

pancreatic islets

•endocrine function

–Controls blood glucose levels and glucose metabolism throughout the body

glucagon

–secreted by alpha cells in the pancreas in response to the low levels of blood glucose

–­ glucose level by stimulating liver to convert glycogen to glucose to be released into bloodstream

insulin

–secreted by beta cells in the pancreas in response to the high levels of blood glucose

–Allows glucose to enter the cells

–Stimulates liver to convert glucose into glycogen for storage when additional glucose is not needed

adrenal glands

•Located on the top of each kidney

•Control electrolyte levels within the body

•Help regulate metabolism and

•Interact with sympathetic nervous system in response to stress

adrenal cortex

outer portion

secretes androgens and corticosteroids

adrenal medulla

middle portion

secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine

androgen

–Sex hormones secreted by gonads, adrenal cortex, and fat cells

corticosteroids

steroid hormones - aldosterone and cortisol

aldosterone

regulates Na⁺ and H₂O levels by increasing Na⁺ reabsorption by the kidneys

cortisol

has anti-inflammatory action as well as cardiovascular, metabolic actions

epinephrine

–Stimulates sympathetic nervous system in response to the physical or mental stress

norepinephrine

Released as a hormone by adrenal medulla and as a neuro-hormone by sympathetic nervous s.

gonads

•Reproductive glands specific to gender

–Ovaries in females - secrete estrogen & progesterone

–Testicles in males - secretes androgen & testosterone

•responsible for developing and maintaining  secondary sex characteristics during puberty

synthetic hormones

not secreted by endocrine glands but synthetically manufactures

steroids

–Secreted by endocrine glands or artificially produced as medications to relieve swelling and inflammation (e.g. Prednisone)

anabolic steroids

–Used to help the body replace muscle mass caused by disease or

–used illegally by some to build muscle mass