NURS 120 Module 7: Chapter 11

Acromegaly

condition caused by hypersecretion of growth hormone after puberty, resulting in enlargement of facial features (e.g., jaw, nose), fingers, and toes

Addison disease

disease of the adrenal gland resulting in low blood glucose, weight loss, weakness, increased blood sodium, and decreased blood potassium

Adenohypophysis

anterior pituitary gland, which has the structure of an endocrine gland

adrenal cortex

outer portion of adrenal gland that secretes hormones called corticoids

adrenal medulla

inner portion of adrenal gland that secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

hormone that stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete larger amounts of hormones

aldosterone

hormone that stimulates the kidney to retain sodium ions and water

anabolism

process in which cells make complex molecules (e.g., hormones) from simpler compounds (e.g., amino acids)

androgen

male sex hormone

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

hormone produced in the posterior pituitary gland to regulate the balance of water in the body by accelerating the reabsorption of water

atrial natriuretic hormone (ANH)

hormone secreted by the heart cells that regulates fluid and electrolyte homeostasis

calcitonin (CT)

a hormone secreted by the thyroid that decreases calcium in the blood

chorion

structure that develops into an important fetal membrane in the placenta

chorionic gonadotropin

any of several hormones secreted by the developing placenta during pregnancy that have a gonad-stimulating effect

corpus luteum (pl., corpora lutea)

a hormone-secreting glandular structure transformed after ovulation from a ruptured follicle; it secretes chiefly progesterone and some estrogen

corticoid

category of hormones secreted by any of the three cell layers of the adrenal cortex

cortisol

hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex to stimulate the availability of glucose in the blood; in large amounts, cortisol can depress immune functions, as when it is used as a drug treatment

cortisone

another name for the hormone cortisol, secreted by the adrenal cortex

cretinism

dwarfism with developmental and intellectual disabilities caused by hyposecretion of the thyroid gland

Cushing syndrome

condition caused by the hypersecretion of glucocorticoids from the adrenal cortex

cyclic AMP (cAMP)

adenosine monophosphate, one of several second messengers that deliver information inside the cell and thus regulate the cell's activity

diabetes insipidus

condition resulting from the hyposecretion of ADH in which large volumes of urine are formed and, if left untreated, may cause serious health problems

diabetes mellitus (DM)

a condition that occurs when the pancreatic islet cells secrete too little insulin, resulting in increased levels of blood glucose

dwarfism

condition of abnormally small stature, sometimes resulting from hyposecretion of growth hormone

endocrine gland

any of the ductless glands that are part of the endocrine system and secrete hormones into intercellular spaces, where they diffuse into the bloodstream

endocrine system

the series of ductless glands found in the body

endocrinology

study and treatment of the endocrine glands, hormones, and their disorders

epinephrine (Epi)

adrenaline; secretion of the adrenal medulla

estrogen

sex hormone secreted by the ovary that causes the development and maintenance of the female secondary sex characteristics and stimulates growth of the epithelial cells lining the uterus

exocrine gland

glands that secrete their products into ducts that empty onto a surface or into a cavity; for example, sweat glands

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

hormone present in males and females; in males, FSH stimulates the production of sperm; in females, FSH stimulates the ovarian follicles to mature and follicle cells to secrete estrogen

ghrelin

hormone secreted by epithelial cells lining the stomach; boosts appetite, slows metabolism, and reduces lipid burning; may be involved in the development of obesity

gigantism

a condition produced by hypersecretion of growth hormone during the early years of life; results in a child who grows to gigantic size

glucagon

hormone secreted by α cells of the pancreatic islets

glucocorticoid (GC)

category of hormones that influence nutrient metabolism; secreted by the adrenal cortex

gluconeogenesis

formulation of glucose or glycogen from protein or lipid compounds

glycogenolysis

hydrolysis of glycogen to glucose 6-phosphate or to glucose

glycosuria

glucose in the urine; a sign of diabetes mellitus

growth hormone (GH)

hormone, secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, that controls the rate of skeletal and visceral growth

hormone

substance secreted by an endocrine gland

hydrocortisone

therapeutic version of the hormone cortisone (cortisol) secreted by the adrenal cortex; also known as compound F

hypercalcemia

a condition in which there is a harmful excess of calcium in the blood

hyperglycemia

higher than normal blood glucose concentration

hypersecretion

excessive secretion of a substance

hyperthyroidism

oversecretion of thyroid hormones that increases metabolic rate, resulting in loss of weight, increased appetite, and nervous irritability

hypoglycemia

a lower than normal blood glucose concentration

hyposecretion

too little of a substance is being secreted

hypothyroidism

undersecretion of thyroid hormones; early in life results in cretinism, later in life in myxedema

inhibiting hormone (IH)

hormone produced by the hypothalamus that slows the release of anterior pituitary hormones

insulin

hormone secreted by the pancreatic islets

leptin

hormone, secreted by lipid-storing cells, that regulates how hungry or full we feel and how lipid is metabolized by the body

leukotriene

cytokine compound that functions as an inflammation mediator

luteinization

the formation of a golden body (corpus luteum) in the ruptured follicle

luteinizing hormone (LH)

acts in conjunction with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to stimulate follicle and ovum maturation and release of estrogen and ovulation; known as the ovulating hormone; in males, causes testes to develop and secrete testosterone

melatonin

important hormone produced by the pineal gland that is believed to regulate the onset of puberty and the menstrual cycle; also referred to as the third eye because it responds to levels of light and is thought to be involved with the body's internal clock

mineralocorticoid (MC)

hormone that influences mineral salt metabolism; secreted by adrenal cortex; aldosterone is the chief mineralocorticoid

myxedema

condition caused by deficiency of thyroid hormone in adults

negative feedback

homeostatic control system in which information feeding back to the control center causes the level of a variable to be changed in the direction opposite to that of the initial stimulus

neurohypophysis

posterior pituitary gland

nonsteroid hormone

general type of hormone that does not have the lipid steroid structure (derived from cholesterol) but is instead a protein or protein derivative; also sometimes called protein hormone

norepinephrine (NR)

hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla; released by the sympathetic nervous system

Ova (sing., ovum)

female gametes; egg

ovarian follicle

pockets in the ovaries that contain developing oocytes

oxytocin (OT)

hormone secreted by the posterior pituitary gland before and after the delivery of a baby; thought to initiate and maintain labor, it also causes the release of breast milk into ducts for the baby to suck

pancreatic islet (islet of Langerhans)

endocrine portion of the pancreas; made up of small groupings of α and β cells among others; also known as islet of Langerhans

paracrine

hormone that regulates activity in nearby cells within the same tissue as their source

parathyroid gland

any of the endocrine glands located in the neck on the posterior aspect of the thyroid gland; secretes parathyroid hormone

parathyroid hormone (PTH)

hormone produced by the parathyroid gland that increases the concentration of calcium in the blood

pituitary gland

endocrine gland located in the skull; made up of the adenohypophysis and neurohypophysis

positive feedback

homeostatic control system in which information feeding back to the control center causes the level of a variable to be pushed further in the direction of the original deviation, causing an amplification of the original stimulus; ordinarily this mechanism is used by the body to amplify a process and quickly finish it, as in labor contractions and blood clotting

progesterone

hormone produced by the corpus luteum; stimulates secretion of the uterine lining; with estrogen, helps initiate the menstrual cycle in girls entering puberty

prolactin

hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland during pregnancy to stimulate the breast development needed for lactation

prostaglandin (PG)

any of a group of naturally occurring lipidty acids that regulate body functions within a local area; also called tissue hormones

releasing hormone (RH)

hormone produced by the hypothalamus gland that causes the anterior pituitary gland to release its hormones

second messenger

chemical that provides communication within a hormone's target cell; for example, cAMP

sella turcica

depression of the sphenoid bone that contains the pituitary gland

semen

male reproductive fluid; also called seminal fluid

sex hormone

any hormone that has a reproductive function

signal transduction

term that refers to the whole process of getting a chemical signal (such as a hormone or neurotransmitter) to the inside of a cell; in a way, signal transduction is really "signal translation" by the cell

simple goiter

condition in which the thyroid enlarges because iodine is lacking in the diet

Sperm (pl., sperms or sperm)

the male spermatozoon; sex cell

steroid hormone

lipid-soluble hormones that pass intact through the cell membrane of the target cell and influence cell activity by acting on specific genes

stress

an actual or perceived threat, or the reaction of the body to such a threat; pressure

target cell

cell acted on by a particular hormone or other signal and responding to it

testosterone

male sex hormone produced by the interstitial cells in the testes; the "masculinizing hormone"

thromboxane

prostaglandin-like substance in platelets that plays a role in hemostasis and blood clotting

thymosin

family of hormones produced by the thymus that is vital to the development and functioning of the body's immune system, particularly the development of T lymphocytes

thyroid follicle

pocket of thyroid colloid (suspended, stored form of thyroid hormone) in the thyroid gland

thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

a tropic hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that stimulates the thyroid gland to increase its secretion of thyroid hormone

thyroxine (T4)

thyroid hormone that stimulates cellular metabolism

triiodothyronine (T3)

thyroid hormone that stimulates cellular metabolism

tropic hormone

hormone that stimulates another endocrine gland to grow and secrete its hormones

type 1 diabetes mellitus

a condition resulting when the pancreatic islets secrete too little insulin, resulting in increased levels of blood glucose; formerly known as juvenile-onset diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

type 2 diabetes mellitus

a condition resulting when cells of the body become less sensitive to the hormone insulin and perhaps the pancreatic islets secrete too little insulin, resulting in increased levels of blood glucose; formerly known as maturity-onset diabetes or insulin-independent diabetes mellitus

The endocrine system provides slower but longer-lasting control by way of hormones (chemicals) secreted into and circulated by the blood.

All organs of the endocrine system are glands, but not all glands are organs of the endocrine system

Of the two types of glands in the body— exocrine glands and endocrine glands—only endocrine glands belong to this system

Exocrine glands secrete their products into ducts that empty onto a surface or into a cavity.

Endocrine glands are ductless glands. They secrete chemicals known as hormones into intercellular spaces. From there, the hormones diffuse directly into the blood and are carried throughout the body.

. Hormones are the main regulators of metabolism, growth and development, reproduction, and many other body activities. They play important roles in maintaining homeostasis—fluid and electrolyte, acid-base, and energy balances, for example