Medical Terminology Chp 9 Part 1

endocrinology

diagnosis and treatment of endocrine gland disorders

-ex. Hormone imbalances, diabetes, osteoporosis

endocrine system structure

network of ductless glands with a rich blood supply that discharge hormones slowly into the bloodstream; these hormones affect target tissues/organs

function of the endocrine system

the endocrine system, along with the nervous system, monitors changes in body and environment, interprets these changes, and coordinates responses to maintain homeostasis

glands of the endocrine system

-pituitary gland (master gland)

-thyroid gland (2 lobes connected by an isthmus, secretes hormones that regulate metabolism)

-adrenal/suprarenal glands (located superior to kidneys, with an outer adrenal cortex and inner adrenal medulla)

-pancreas (posterior to stomach, with hormone-producing cells called islets of Langerhans)

-pineal and thymus glands (relatively unknown)

-ovaries and testes

functions of the islets of Langerhans

pancreatic hormone-producing cells are called islets of Langerhans and are important for the metabolism of sugars and starches; alpha cells produce glucagon; beta cells produce insulin

aden/o, adren/o

gland

calc/o

calcium

gluc/o, glyc/o

sugar, sweetness

kal/i

potassium

pancreat/o

pancreas

parathyroid/o

parathyroid glands

pituitar/o

pituitary gland

thyr/o, thyroid/o

thyroid gland

toxic/o

poison

-dispia

thirst

-trophy

development, nourishment

adrenocorticotropic hormone (FSH) - pituitary

anterior pituitary hormone; targets adrenal cortex and promotes secretion of cortisol by the adrenal cortex

-Hyposecretion is rare

-Hypersecretion causes Cushing disease

follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) - pituitary

targets ovaries in females to stimulate egg production and estrogen secretion; targets testes in males to stimulate sperm production

-Hyposecretion causes failure of sexual maturation

-Hypersecretion has no known significant effects

growth hormone (GH) - pituitary

AKA somatotropin; targets bone, cartilage, liver, muscle, etc to stimulate somatic growth; increases the use of fats for energy

-Hyposecretion causes pituitary dwarfism in children

-Hypersecretion causes gigantism in children and acromegaly in adults

luteinizing hormone (LH) - pituitary

targets ovaries in females to promote ovulation and production of estrogen/progesterone; targets testes in males to promote testosterone secretion

-Hyposecretion causes failure of sexual maturation

-Hypersecretion has no known significant effects

prolactin - pituitary

targets breast to promote lactation in conjunction with other hormones

-Hyposecretion causes poor lactation in nursing mothers

-Hypersecretion causes galactorrhea

thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) - pituitary

targets thyroid gland to stimulate secretion of thyroid hormone

-Hyposecretion causes cretinism in infants and myxedema in adults

-Hypersecretion causes Graves disease indicated by exophthalmos

antidiuretic hormone (ADH) - pituitary

posterior pituitary hormone; targets kidney to increase water reabsorption

-Hyposecretion causes diabetes insipidus

-Hypersecretion causes syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)

oxytocin - pituitary

targets uterus to stimulate uterine contractions and initiate labor; targets breast to promote milk secretion from mammary glands

-Unknown effects of hypo/hypersecretion

calcitonin - thyroid

regulates calcium levels in blood along with parathyroid hormone; secreted when calcium levels are too high

-significant effects in childhood and weak hypocalcemic agent in adults

thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) - thyroid

increase energy production from food types, increase rate of protein synthesis

-Hyposecretion causes cretinism in infants and myxedema in adults

-Hypersecretion causes Graves disease

parathyroid hormone (PTH) - thyroid

targets bones to increase reabsorption of calcium and phosphate from bone to blood; targets kidneys to increase calcium absorption and phosphate excretion; targets small intestine to increase absorption of calcium and phosphate

-Hyposecretion causes tetany

-Hypersecretion causes osteitis fibrosa cystica

glucocorticoids (cortisol) - adrenal

adrenal cortex hormone; targets body cells to promote gluconeogenesis, regulate metabolism of carbs/proteins/fats, and depress inflammatory and immune responses

-Hyposecretion causes Addison disease

-Hypersecretion causes Cushing disease

mineralocorticoids (aldosterone) - adrenal

targets kidneys to increase blood levels of sodium and decrease blood levels of potassium in kidneys

-Hyposecretion causes Addison disease

-Hypersecretion causes aldosteronism

sex hormones - adrenal

in females, sex hormones are possibly responsible for female libido and a source of estrogen after menopause

-Hyposecretion has no known significant effects

-Hypersecretion of adrenal androgen in females leads to virilism (male characteristics)

-Hypersecretion of adrenal estrogen/progesterone in males leads to feminization (feminine characteristics)

epinephrine and norepinephrine - adrenal

adrenal medullary hormone; target sympathetic nervous system to mimic SNS activation (they are sympathomimetic), increase metabolic rate and heart rate, and raise blood pressure by promoting vasoconstriction

-Hyposecretion has no known significant effects

-Hypersecretion causes prolonged flight-or-fight reaction and hypertension

glucagon - pancreas

targets liver and blood to increase blood glucose level by accelerating conversion of glycogen into glucose in liver (glycogenesis) and conversion of other nutrients into glucose (gluconeogenesis) and by releasing glucose into blood

-Hyposecretion may cause hypoglycemia/persistently low blood sugar levels

insulin - pancreas

targets tissue cells to lower blood glucose level by accelerating glucose transport into cells and converting glucose into glycogen

-Hyposecretion causes diabetes mellitus

-Hypersecretion causes hyperinsulinism

ADH

antidiuretic hormone

ACTH

andrenocorticotropic hormone

ALS

amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

BMI

body mass index

BG

blood glucose

DM

diabetes mellitus

FBG

fasting blood glucose

GH

growth hormone

GTT

glucose tolerance test

HRT

hormone replacement therapy

LH

luteinizing hormone

OGTT

oral glucose tolerance test

PGH

pituitary growth hormone

RAIU

radioactive iodine uptake

TSH

thyroid-stimulating hormone

acromegaly

hypersecretion of GH in adults; enlargement of extremities

Addison disease

rare chronic disorder caused by a deficiency of cortical hormones when the adrenal cortex is damaged or atrophied; can be life threatening

Cushing syndrome

cluster of symptoms caused by excessive amounts of cortisol or adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in the blood

Diabetes mellitus (DM)

chronic metabolic disorder of impaired carb, protein, and fat metabolism due to insufficient insulin production or inability to use it properly

-Type I - abrupt in onset due to failure of the pancreas to produce insulin; difficult to regulate (IDDM)

-Type 2 - gradual in onset; from deficiency in producing enough insulin or resistance to insulin's action by body cells (adult onset)

Graves disease

multisystem autoimmune disorder that involves growth of the thyroid with hypersecretion of thyroxine; AKA exophthalmic goiter, thyrotoxicosis, or toxic goiter

insulinoma

tumor of islets of Langerhans; pancreatic tumor

myxedema

advanced form of hypothyroidism in adulthood resulting from hypofunction of the thyroid gland; affects body fluids causing edema

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas when pancreatic enzymes that digest food are activated in the pancreas and attack tissue

panhypopituitarism

total pituitary impairment that brings about progressive and general loss of hormone activity

pheochromocytoma

rare adrenal gland tumor that causes excessive release of epinephrine and norepinephrine and induces severe blood pressure elevation

fasting blood glucose (FBG)

test that measures glucose levels in the blood after fasting for at least 8 hours; AKA fasting blood sugar

glucose tolerance test (GTT)

screening test where patient fasts 8-12 hours, ingests glucose, and undergoes blood draws to determine how quickly it is cleared from blood; AKA OGTT

radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU)

imaging procedure that measures radioactivity in the thyroid after oral or IV administration of iodine

transsphenoidal hypophysectomy

minimally invasive endoscopic surgery that removes pituitary tumors through the nasal cavity via the sphenoid sinus without affecting brain tissue

hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

correct a deficiency in hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, or thyroid hormone

oral hypoglycemics

stimulate insulin secretion from pancreatic cells in non-insulin-dependent diabetes with some pancreatic function