chapter 12 path terms

acromegaly

type of hyperpituitarism in which an overactive pituitary
gland after adulthood causes abnormal continued growth of
bones and tissues of the face and extremities

Addison’s disease

illness characterized by gradual adrenal-gland failure, resulting in insufficient production of steroid hormones and the
need for hormone replacement therapy; also called hypoadrenalism and adrenocortical insufficiency

congenital hypothyroidism

congenital condition of thyroid hormone deficiency, characterized by arrested physical and mental development; formerly called cretinism

Cushing’s disease

disorder caused by hypersecretion of cortisol by the adrenal
gland, resulting in altered fat distribution and muscle weakness; also called hyperadrenocorticism, hypercortisolism and hyperadrenalism

diabetes insipidus

disorder unrelated to diabetes mellitus, characterized by
excessive output of dilute urine

diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

condition of severe hyperglycemia

diabetes mellitus (DM)

chronic metabolic disorder in which the pancreas secretes
insufficient amounts of insulin or the body is insulin resistant

dwarfism

hyposecretion of growth hormone during childhood, resulting in an abnormally small adult

exophthalmos

abnormal protrusion of the eyeballs

gestational diabetes

diabetes that begins during pregnancy due to insulin resistance and altered glucose metabolism

giantism

type of hyperpituitarism that causes hypersecretion of
growth hormone during childhood, resulting in an abnormally large adult

goiter

enlarged thyroid gland

Graves’ disease

hyperthyroidism caused by an autoimmune response, which
may cause exophthalmos; also called thyrotoxicosis
chronic, inflammatory condition that leads to the m

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

chronic, inflammatory condition that leads to the most
common type of thyroiditis; also called chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and autoimmune thyroiditis

hirsutism

male pattern of body-hair development in females

hyperaldosteronism

condition in which the adrenal glands release excessive
aldosterone; also called Conn’s syndrome

hyperparathyroidism

condition in which the parathyroid glands produce an excessive amount of parathyroid hormone (

hypoparathyroidism

condition in which the parathyroid glands are hypoactive
and as a result the level of parathyroid hormones (PTH) is
too low

myxedema

severe form of hypothyroidism that develops in the older
child or adult, causing nonpitting edema in connective tissue

nondiabetic hypoglycemia

condition in which a nondiabetic person experiences mild
symptoms associated with low blood glucose

panhypopituitarism

condition resulting from diminished secretion of pituitary
hormones; also called underactive pituitary gland

pheochromocytoma

tumor of the adrenal medulla (central part of the adrenal
gland), usually benign but sometimes causing fluctuation of
stress hormones like adrenaline

pituitary dwarfism

type of hypopituitarism in which reduced growth and development occur due to deficiency of growth hormone in childhood

polydipsia

much (increased) thirst

polyphagia

much (increased) appetite

polyuria

much (increased) urination

precocious puberty

premature onset of puberty with the appearance of secondary sex characteristics in young children

retinopathy

disease of the retina, often caused by diabetes

thyrotoxicosis

severe episode of worsening symptoms of hyperthyroidism