Chapter 7 - Medical Terminology

Endocrine System

aden/o

gland

adren/o, adrenal/o

adrenal gland

pancreat/o

pancreas

pituitar/o, hypophys/o

pituitary gland

thym/o

thymus

thyr/o, thyroid/o

thyroid

gluc/o, glucos/o, glyc/o

sugar

crin/o

to secrete

-tropin

stimulating hormone

-emia

blood condition

-uria

urine condition

acromegaly

abnormal enlargement of the extremities

adrenal virilism

development of male secondary sexual characteristics caused by excessive secretion of the adrenal gland

exophthalmos

protrusion of the eyes out of the eye socket

goiter

swollen thyroid gland

hypoglycemic

pertaining to low blood sugar

myxedema

swelling of the skin caused by deposits under the skin

pituitary dwarfism

abnormally short height caused by undersecretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland

pituitary gigantism

abnormally tall height caused by oversecretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland

polydipsia

excessive thirst

polyuria

excessive urination

euglycemia

good blood sugar

glucosuria

sugar in the urine

hyperglycemia

high blood sugar

hypoglycemia

low blood sugar

polyuria

excessive urination

uremia

presence of urinary waste in the blood

adrenaline

hormone secreted by the adrenal gland

corticotropin

shorter name for adrenocorticotropic hormone

epinephrine

hormone secreted by the adrenal gland

gonadotropin

hormone that stimulates the gonads

insulin

hormone secreted by the pancreas that controls the metabolism and uptake of sugar and fats

thyrotropin

hormone that stimulates the thyroid

endocrine

to secrete internally

endocrinologist

specialist in internal secretions

euthyroid

normal functioning thyroid

adrenitis

inflammation of a gland

adenoma

glandular tumor

insulinoma

tumor that secretes insulin (found in the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas)

adrenalitis

inflammation of the adrenal gland

diabetes mellitus

metabolic disease characterized by excessive urination and hyperglycemia

hyperparathyroidism

overproduction by the parathyroid glands

hyperpituitarism

overfunctioning of the pituitary gland

hyperthyroidism

overproduction by the thyroid

hypoparathyroidism

underproduction by the parathyroid

hypopituitarism

condition caused by the undersecretion of the pituitary gland

hypothyroidism

underproduction by the thyroid

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas

panhypopituitarism

defective or absent function of the entire pituitary gland

thyroiditis

inflammation fo the thyroid

thyrotoxicosis

condition caused by the exposure of body tissue to excessive levels of thyroid hormone (an extreme version of this is known as “thyroid storm”

adenectomy

removal of a gland

adrenalectomy

removal of the adrenal gland

hypophysectomy

removal of the pituitary gland

pancreatectomy

removal of the pancreas

parathyroidectomy

removal of the parathyroid

thymectomy

removal of the thymus

thyroid function tests

tests performed to evaluate the function of the thyroid

thyroidectomy

removal of the thyroid

thyroidotomy

incision into the thyroid

thyroidotoxin

substance poisonous to the thyroid gland