Endocrine System and Related Topics - Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key endocrine concepts, conditions, and terms mentioned in the lecture notes.

Pituitary gland

Master endocrine gland that secretes hormones controlling other glands.

Master gland

Colloquial term for the pituitary gland due to its regulatory role.

Pancreas

Gland that produces insulin and regulates blood glucose.

Insulin

Hormone that promotes glucose uptake into cells, lowering blood sugar.

Beta cells

Pancreatic cells that produce insulin.

Type 1 diabetes

Autoimmune destruction of beta cells leading to little or no insulin.

Type 2 diabetes

Insulin resistance with inadequate insulin action; often progressive.

Polyuria

Excessive urination.

Polydipsia

Excessive thirst.

Polyphagia

Excessive hunger.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)

Severe hyperglycemia with ketosis and metabolic acidosis, risk of coma and death.

Ketones in urine

Ketone bodies detected in urine during DKA.

Kussmaul (Gussonol) respirations

Deep, rapid breathing seen in metabolic acidosis.

Hyperglycemia

High blood glucose.

Hypoglycemia

Low blood glucose.

Graves’ disease

Autoimmune hyperthyroidism often with exophthalmos.

Exophthalmos

Bulging eyes seen in Graves’ disease.

Buffalo hump

Fat pad on the upper back/neck seen with Cushing’s syndrome.

Striae

Stretch marks from skin changes, common in Cushing’s syndrome.

Hyperpigmentation

Darkening of skin seen in certain endocrine disorders.

Hashimoto thyroiditis

Autoimmune hypothyroidism due to thyroiditis.

Addison’s disease

Adrenal insufficiency with low cortisol and electrolyte disturbances.

Cushing’s syndrome

Chronic excess cortisol causing metabolic changes and characteristic fat distribution.

Hirsutism

Excessive hair growth in women due to androgen excess. Meaning areas where women typically have little or no hair, such as the face (upper lip, chin, sideburns), chest, back, and abdomen

PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome)

Hormonal disorder with irregular menses, insulin resistance and hyperandrogenism.

Intussusception

Mechanical telescoping of one part of the intestine into another.

Diverticulitis

Inflammation of diverticula in the colon.

Diverticulosis

Presence of diverticula (pouches) in the colon.

Nephron

Functional unit of the kidney that filters blood.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Hormone that promotes water reabsorption in the kidneys.

A nurse is educating a patient about ulcerative colitis. The nurse is right when says

Ulcerative colitis lesions are limited to the intestinal mucosa

which one the following below is considered the etiology of PKD

Genetic mutation