AH 2001: CHAPTER 9 (key terms)

endocrin/o

endocrine glands or system

endocrinopathy

any disease of the endocrine glands

pituitar/i 

pituitary gland, hypophysis 

pituitarism 

condition caused by an disorder of pituitary function 

hypophysi/o

pituitary gland, hypophysis

hypophysial

pertaining to the pituitary gland

thyr/o, thyroid/o 

thyroid gland 

thyrolytic

destroying the thyroid gland

parathyr/o, parathyroid/o

parathyroid gland

hyperparathyroidism 

overactivity of a parathyroid gland 

adren/o, adrenal/o

adrenal gland, epinephrine

adrenergic

activated (erg) by or related to epinephrine (adrenaline)

adrenocortic/o 

adrenal cortex

adrenocorticotropic

acting on the adrenal cortex

insul/o

pancreatic islets

insular

pertaining to islet cells 

hormone

a secretion of an endocrine gland; a substance that travels in the blood + has a regulatory effect on tissues, organs, or glands

endocrine

pertaining to a ductless gland that secretes hormones into the blood

receptor

a site on the cell membrane or within the cell to which a substance, such as a hormone, attaches

target tissue 

the specific tissue on which a hormone acts 

steroid hormone

a hormone made from lipids, including the sex hormones + the hormones of the adrenal cortex

pituitary gland

a small endocrine gland at the base of the brain

anterior pituitary 

secretes growth hormone + hormones that stimulate other glands 

posterior pituitary

releases ADH + oxytocin manufactured in the hypothalamus

hypophysis

pituitary gland

hypothalamus

a portion of the brain that controls the pituitary gland + is active in maintaining homeostasis

sella turcica

a saddle-shaped depression in the sphenoid bone that contains the pituitary gland 

sphenoid bone

a bone at the base of the skull that houses the pituitary gland

thyroid gland

an endocrine gland on either side of the larynx + upper trachea that secretes hormones that affect metabolism + growth

parathyroid gland

a small endocrine gland on the posterior thyroid that acts to increase blood calcium levels

4-6

how many parathyroid glands are there? 

adrenal gland

a gland on the superior surface of the kidney

outer cortex (of adrenal gland)

secretes steroid hormones

inner medulla (of adrenal gland)

secretes epinephrine (adrenaline) in response to stress 

pancreatic islet

cluster of endocrine cells in the pancreas that secretes hormones to regulate glucose metabolism

islet of Langerhans

pancreatic islet

insulin

• increases cellular use of glucose 

• decreases glucose levels in blood 

glucagon

• decreases cellular use of glucose

• increases glucose levels in blood

pineal gland

a small gland in the brain that secretes the hormone melatonin

melatonin

regulates mood, daily rhythms, + sexual development in response to environmental light

thymus

an endocrine gland located behind the sternum that secretes thymosin

gonads

endocrine glands that secrete sex hormones

prostaglandins

a group of hormones produced throughout the body that have a variety of effects, including:

• stimulation of uterine contractions

• regulation of blood pressure

• inflammatory response

• blood clotting

adenoma 

a neoplasm of a gland 

gigantism

overgrowth caused by an excess of growth hormone from the pituitary during childhood

acromegaly

overgrowth of bone + soft tissue, especially in the hands, feet, + face, caused by an excess of growth hormone from the pituitary during adulthood

panhypopituitarism 

underactivity of the entire pituitary gland 

cause of panhypopituitarism 

• tumor

• interruption of gland’s blood supply

adult hypothyroidism

a condition caused by deficiency of thyroid hormones in adults

symptoms of adult hypothyroidism

dry, waxy smelling, most notable in the face 

Graves disease

an autoimmune disease resulting in hyperthyroidism

prominent symptom of Graves disease 

exophthalmos (protrusion of the eyeballs) 

diffuse toxic goiter

Graves disease

goiter

enlargement of the thyroid gland (can result from Graves disease) 

tetany

irritability + spasms of muscles; may be caused by low blood calcium + other factors

Addison disease

a disease resulting from deficiency of adrenocortical hormones

symptoms of Addison disease

• darkening of the skin 

• weakness 

• alterations in salt + water balance 

Cushing disease

overactivity of the adrenal cortex resulting from excess production of ACTH by the pituitary

Cushing syndrome

a condition resulting from an excess of hormones from the adrenal cortex

symptoms of Cushing syndrome

• obesity 

• weakness 

• hyperglycemia 

• hypertension 

• hirsutism (excess hair growth) 

diabetes insipidus

a disorder caused by insufficient release of ADH from anterior pituitary that results in excess thirst + production of large amounts of very dilute urine

diabetes mellitus

a disorder of glucose metabolism caused by deficiency of insulin production of failure of the tissues to respond to insulin

glycosuria

body’s attempt to rid body of excess glucose by increased urination (excess sugar in the urine)

type 1 diabetes mellitus 

results from autoimmune destruction of pancreatic islet; generally appears in children + requires insulin administration 

type 2 diabetes mellitus

generally occurs in obese adults; it is treated with diet, exercise, drugs to improve insulin production or activity, + sometimes insulin

glycated hemoglobin (A1c) test

a test that measures the binding of glucose to hemoglobin during the lifespan of a red blood cell

purpose of glycated hemoglobin (A1c) test

• reflects the average blood glucose level over 2-3 months 

• useful in evaluating long-term therapy for diabetes mellitus 

fasting plasma glucose (FPG)

measurement of glucose in the blood after a fast of at least 8 hours 

oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)

measurement of glucose levels in blood plasma after administration of a challenge dose of glucose to a fasting patient; used to measure patient’s ability to metabolize glucose 

hyperglycemia

excess glucose in the blood

hypoglycemia

abnormally low level of glucose in the blood

insulin shock

a condition resulting from an overdose of insulin, causing hypoglycemia 

ketoacidosis

acidosis (increased acidity of body fluids) caused by excess of ketone bodies, as in diabetes mellitus

metabolic syndrome

a state of hyperglycemia caused by cellular resistance to insulin, as seen in type 2 diabetes, in association with other metabolic disorders

syndrome X

metabolic syndrome 

adrenogenital syndrome

condition caused by overproduction of androgens from the adrenal cortex, resulting in masculinization

cause of adrenogenital syndrome

may be congenital or acquired, usually as a result of an adrenal tumor

Conn syndrome 

hyperaldosteronism caused by an adrenal tumor 

craniopharyngioma

a tumor of the pituitary gland

Hashimoto disease

a chronic thyroiditis of autoimmune origin

impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)

high blood glucose levels after glucose intake that may signal borderline diabetes mellitu

ketosis

accumulation of ketone bodies, such as acetone, in the body

cause of ketosis

results from deficiency or faulty metabolism of carbohydrates, as in cases of diabetes mellitus + starvation 

multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN)

a hereditary disorder that causes tumors in several endocrine glands; classified according to the combination of glands involved

pheochromocytoma

a usually benign tumor of the adrenal medulla or other structures containing chromaffin cells (cells that stain with chromium salts)

pituitary apoplexy 

sudden massive hemorrhage + degeneration of the pituitary gland associated with a pituitary tumor 

symptoms of pituitary apoplexy 

• severe headache

• visual problems

• loss of consciousness

seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

a mood disorder with lethargy, depression, excessive need for sleep, + overeating that generally occurs in winter

cause of seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

thought to be related to melatonin levels as influenced by environmental light 

Simmonds disease

hypofunction of the anterior pituitary, usually because of an infarction (obstruction to the blood supply to an organ or region of tissue)

thyrotoxicosis

condition resulting from overactivity of the thyroid gland; main example is Graves disease

thyroid storm

a sudden onset of the symptoms of thyrotoxicosis occurring in patients with hyperthyroidism who are untreated or poorly treated; may be brought on by illness or trauma 

von Recklinghausen disease

degeneration of bone caused by excess production of parathyroid hormone

free thyroxine index (FTI, T₇)

calculation based on amount of T₄ present + T₃ uptake, used to diagnose thyroid dysfunction 

thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) test

test that measures the main protein that binds T₄ in the blood

radioimmunoassay (RIA)

a method of measuring very small amounts of a substance, especially in hormones, in blood plasma using radioactively labeled hormones + specific antibodies

radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU)

a test that measures thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine as an evaluation of thyroid function

thyroid scan

visualization of the thyroid gland after administration of radioactive iodine 

transsphenoidal adenomectomy

removal of a pituitary tumor through the sphenoid sinus (space in the sphenoid bone)