Med Term: Chap 13- The Endocrine System

Acr/o

Extremities (hands and feet), top, extreme point

Adren/o

Adrenal gland

Crin/o

Secrete

-dipsia

Thirst

Glyc/o

Glucose, sugar

Gonad/o

Gonad, sex glands

-ism

Condition, state of

Pancreat/o

Pancrea

Parathyroid/o

Parathyroid gland

Pineal/o

Pineal glands

Pituitar/o

Pituitary glands

Poly-

Many

Somat/o

Body

Thym/o

Thymus gland

Thyr/o, thyroid/o

Thyroid glands

Homeostasis

The process through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

Hormones

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

Endocrine glands

Produce hormones, do not have ducts

Pituitary gland

A pea-sized gland that is divided into two parts, the anterior and posterior lobes. These lobes hang from a stalk-like structure located below the hypothalamus in the brain

Functions: secrete hormones that control the activity of other endocrine glands. It acts in response to stimuli from neurohormones secreted by hypothalamus

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

Stimulates the growth and secretions of the adrenal cortex

Follicle-stimulating hormone

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)

Growth hormone

Regulates the growth of bone, muscle, and other body tissues

Aka somatotropic hormone

Interstitial cell-stimulating hormone (ICSH)

Stimulates ovulation in the female and in male, it stimulates the secretion of testosterone

Lactogenic hormone

Stimulates and maintains the secretion of bread at milk in the mother after childbirth

Aka prolactin

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Stimulates the ovulation in the female and in male this hormone stimulates the secretion of testosterone

Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)

Increases the production of melanin in melanocytes, thereby causing darkening of skin-pigmentation. The production of this hormone usually increases during pregnancy

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

Stimulates the secretion of hormones by thyroid glands

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

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

Diuretic

Administered to increase the amount of urine secretion

Oxytocin

Stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth. After childbirth, this hormone controls postnatal hemorrhage and stimulates the flow of milk from the mammary glands

Pitocin

A synthetic form of oxytocin that is administered to induce or speed up labor

Pineal gland

A very small endocrine glands. Located in the central portion of the brain.

Aka pineal body

Functions: secretions of this gland influence the sleep-wakefulness cycle (circadian cycle)

Melatonin

Influences the sleep-wakefulness portions of the circadian cycle

Circadian cycle

Refers to the biological functions that occur within a 24-hour period

Thyroid gland

Lies on either side of the larynx

Functions: regulate the body’s metabolism', secretions of this gland influence growth and functioning of the nervous system

Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3)

Two primary thyroid hormones regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of unction of many other body systems. The rate of secretion of these two hormones is controlled by the thyroid-stimulating hormone

Calcitonin

Produced by the thyroid gland, a hormone that works with the parathyroid hormone to decrease calcium levels in the blood and tissues by moving calcium into storage in the bones and teeth

Parathyroid glands

There are four of them, each of which is about the size of a grain of rice, are embedded in the posterior surface of the thyroid gland

Functions: regulate calcium levels throughout the body

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Works which hormone calcitonin that is secreted by the thyroid gland. Together, they regulate the calcium levels in the blood and tissues

Thymus

Located near the midline in the anterior portion of the thoracic cavity. Functions as AP art of endocrine system by secreting hormone that functions as part of the immune system

Thymosin

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

Pancreas

A feather-shaped organ located posterior to the stomach that functions as part of both the digestive and the endocrine systems

Pancreatic islets

Parts of pancreas that have endocrine functions

Islet

A small isolated mass, or island, of one type of tissue within a larger mass of a different type

Glucose

The basic form of energy used by the body

Aka body sugar

Glucagon (GCG)

The hormone secreted by alpha cells of the pancreatic islets in response to low levels of glucose in the bloodstream. This increases glucose levels by stimulating the liver to convert glycogen (stored/reserved sugar) into glucose for release into the bloodstream

Insulin

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

Adrenal glands

Located with one on top of each kidney

Aka suprarenals

Adrenal cortex

Outer portion of the adrenal glands

Adrenal medulla

Mid portion of the adrenal glands

Electrolytes

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

Androgens

Sex hormones secreted by the gonads, the adrenal cortex, and fat cells. These promotes the development and maintenance of the male sex characteristics, however, they are present in both men and women

Corticosteroids

The steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex. The same term describes synthetically produced equivalent that are administered as medications

Aldosterone

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

Cortisol

A corticosteroid that has an anti inflammatory action. It also regulates metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the body

Aka hydrocortisone

Epinephrine (Epi, EPI)

Stimulates the sympathetic nervous system in response to physical injury or to mental stress such as fear

Aka adrenaline

Norepinephrine

Both a hormone and a neurohormone. It is released as a hormone by the adrenal medulla and as a neurohormone by the sympathetic nervous system. Plays an important role in the “fight-or-flight response”

Gonads

Are gamete-producing glands. These are ovaries in females and testes in males.

Secrete hormones that are responsible for the development and maintenance of the secondary sex characteristics that develop during puberty

Secondary sex characteristics

Feature that distinguish the two sexes, but are not directly related to reproduction

Puberty

The process of physical changes by which a child’s body becomes an adult body that is capable for reproducing. It is marked by maturing of the genital organs, development of secondary sex characteristics, and by the first occurrence of menstruation in female

Precocious puberty

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

Estrogen (E)

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

Progesterone

The hormone released during the second half of the menstrual cycle by the corpus luteum in the ovary. It’s function is to complete preparation of the uterus for possible pregnancy

Gamete

A reproductive cell. Sperm in male and ova (egg) in female

Gonadotropin

Any hormone that stimulates gonads

Testosterone

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

Steroids

Large family of hormone-like substances that share the same fat-soluble chemical structure. Examples- cholesterol, testosterone and some anti-inflammatory drugs. Secreted by endocrine glands or artificially produced as medications to relieve swelling and inflammation in conditions such as asthma

Anabolic steroids

Man-made substances that are chemically related to male sex hormones. They are used in the treatment of hormone problems in men and to help the body replace muscle mass lost due to disease

Leptin

A protein hormone secreted by fat cells that is involved in the regulation of appetite. This leaves the fat cells and travels in the bloodstream to the brain, where it acts on the hypothalamus to suppress appetite and burn fat stored in adipose tissue

Neurohormones

Produced and released by neurons in the brain, rather by the endocrine glands, and delivered to organs and tissues through the bloodstream

Endocrinologist

A physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases and malfunctions of the endocrine glands

Certified diabetes educator (CDE)

A health care professional qualified to teach people with diabetes how to manage their disease

Acromegaly

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

Gigantism

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

Hyperpituitarism

The excess secretion of growth hormones that causes acromegaly and gigantism

Short stature

Sometimes caused by deficient secretion of growth hormone

Formerly known as dwarfism

Pituitary adenoma

Slow-growing benign tumors of the pituitary gland

Aka pituitary tumor

Functioning pituitary tumors

Often produce hormones in large and unregulated amounts

Non functioning pituitary tumors

Do not produce any significant amounts of these hormones

Galactorrhea

A condition in which an excess of prolactin causes the breasts to produce milk spontaneously

Prolactinoma

A benign tumor of the pituitary gland. This type of tumor, which causes the pituitary glands to produce too much of the lactogenic hormone known as prolactin, can cause infertility in women and erectile dysfunction in men, can impair vision

Diabetes insipidus (DI)

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

Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)

Caused by the overproduction of the antidiuretic hormone ADH. This is often as a result of cancer or its treatment

Pinealoma

A tumors or the pineal gland that can disrupt the production of melatonin. This tumor can also cause insomnia by disrupting the circadian cycle

Thyroid carcinoma

Is the most common cancer of the endocrine system. This cancer affects more women than men and usually occurs between the ages of 25 and 65 years

Hashimoto’s disease

An autoimmune disease in which the body’s own antibodies attack and destroy the cells of the thyroid gland. This inflammation often leads to hypothyroidism

Aka chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis

Hypothyroidism

Caused by deficiency of thyroid secretion

Aka under active thyroid

Cretinism

A congenital form of hypothyroidism. If treatment is not started soon after birth, cretinism causes arrested physical and mental development

Myxedema

Caused by an extreme deficiency of thyroid secretion

Aka adult hypothyroidism

Thyroid nodules

Lumps in the thyroid that can grow large enough to cause a goiter. Most of them are benign; however some are malignant or produce too much thyroxine

Thyroid storm

A relatively rare, life-threatening condition caused by exaggerated hyperthyroidism

Aka thyrotoxic crisis

Hyperthyroidism

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

Aka thyrotoxicosis

Graves’ disease

A disorder of unknown cause in which the immune system attacks the thyroid glands and stimulates it to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone. This results in hyperthyroidism, and can cause goiter, exophthalmus, or both

Goiter

An abnormal nonmalignant enlargement of the thyroid gland. This enlargement produces a swelling in the front of the neck. This usually occurs when the thyroid gland is not able to produce enough thyroid hormone to meet the body’s needs

Exophthalmus

An abnormal protrusion of the eyeball out of the orbit

Hyperparathyroidism

Which s the overproduction of the parathyroid hormone, cause the condition known as hypercalcemia. This can result from a disorder of the parathyroid gland or from a disorder elsewhere in the body, such as kidney failure

Hypercalcemia

Characterized by abnormally high concentrations of calcium circulating in the blood instead of being stored in the bones and teeth. This can lead to weakened bones and the formation of kidney stones

Hypoparathyroidism

Caused by an insufficient or absent secretion of the parathyroid hormone. This conditions causes hypocalcemia, and in severe cases, it leads to tetany.

Tetany

The conditions of periodic, painful muscle spasms of tremors

Hypocalcemia

Characterized by abnormally low levels of calcium in the blood