(ATR) Chapter 13: Endocrine System -- Vocab

aldosteronism

an abnormality of electrolyte balance caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone

acromegaly

a rare chronic disease characterized by abnormal enlargement of the extremities (hands and feet) caused by excessive secretio of growth hormone after puberty

Addison’s disease

a condition that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol or aldosterone

adrenalitis

inflammation of the adrenal glands

antidiuretic hormone

the hormone that helps control nlood pressure by reducing the amount of water that is excreted through the kidneys

cortisol

a hormone that has anti-inflammatory action; it also regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the body

Conn’s syndrome

a disorder of the adrenal glands due to excessive production of aldosterone

calcitonin

a hormone that works with the parathyroid hormone to decrease calcium levels in the blood and tissues

cretinism

a congenital form of hypothyroidism that, if not treated soon after birth, causes arrested physical and mental development

diabetes mellitus

a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both

diabetic retinopathy

injury to the eye that occurs when diabetes damages the tiny blood vessels in the retina of the eye

Cushing’s syndrome

a condition caused by the overproduction of cortisol by the body or by taking corticosteroids to treat inflammatory diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis; also known as hypercortisolism

diabetes insipidus

a condition caused by insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone (ADH) or by the inability of the kidneys to respond to ADH

electrolytes

mineral substances, such as sodium and potassium, normally found in the blood

estrogen

a hormone with an important role in the development and maintenance of the female secondary sex characteristics and the regulation of the menstrual cycle

epinephrine

a hormone that stimulates the sympathetic nervous system in response to physical injury or to mental stress such as fear; also known as adrenaline

exophthalmos

an abnormal protusion of the eyeball out of the orbit

follicle-stimulating hormone

the hormone that stimulates the secretion of estrogen and the growth of ova (egg) in the ovaries of the female. In the male, it stimulates the production of sperm in the testicles (testes)

fructosamine test

a blood test that measures average glucose levels over the past 3 weeks

gestational diabetes mellitus

the form of diabetes that occurs during some pregnancies

glucose

the basic form of energy used by the body; also known as blood sugar

Graves’ disease

a disorder of unknown caused in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and stimulates it to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone, resulting in hyperthyroidism

glucagon

the hormone that increases the amount of glucose in the bloodstream by stimulating the liver to convert glycogen into glucose

gigantism

abnormal growth of the entire body that is caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone before puberty

growth hormone

the hormone that regulates the growth of bone, muscle, and other body tissues

gynecomastia

the condition of excessive mammary development in the male

Hashimoto’s disease

an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own antibodies attack and destroy the cells of the thyroid gland

hyperglycemia

an abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood

hyperinsulinism

a condition marked by excessive secretion of insulin in the bloodstream

hyperthyroidism

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

hyperpituitarism

the excessive secretion of growth hormone that causes acromegaly and gigantism

hypercalcemia

abnormally high concentrations of calcium circulating in the blood instead of being stored in the bones and teeth

insulinoma

a benign tumor of the pancreas that causes hypoglycemia

insulin

a hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets in response to high levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Its function is to allow glucose to enter cells for energy or to stimulate the liver to convert glucose to glycogen for storage

hypothyroidism

a deficiency of thyroid secretion; also known as underactive thyroid

hypoglycemia

an abnormally low concentration of glucose (sugar) in the blood

laparoscopic adrenalectomy

a minimally invasive procedure to surgically remove one or both adrenal glands

ketosis

a normal metabolic process that helps the body utilize stored fat when other sources of energy are lacking

leptin

a protein hormone secreted by fat cells that is involved in the regulation of appetite

oxytocin

hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth

norepinephrine

a combination of a hormone and a neurohormone that plays an important role in the “fight-or-flight response”

myxedema

a severe form of adult hypothyroidism

luteinizing hormone

the hormone that stimulates ovulation in the female and production of the female sex hormone progesterone. In the male, it stimulates the secretion of testosterone

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas

polydipsia

excessive thirst

parathyroidectomy

the surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands

polyphagia

excessive hunger

pituitary adenoma

one of two types of slow-growing, benign tumors of the pituitary gland that may or may not cause excess hormone secretion

polyuria

excessive urination

progesterone

this hormone, whose function is to complete the preparation of the uterus for pregnancy, is released during the second half of the menstrual cycle by the corpus luteum in the ovary

prediabetes

a conditon in which the blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes

prolactinoma

a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that causes the gland to produce too much prolactin

steroids

a large family of hormonelike substances that share the same fat-soluble chemical structure

puberty

the process of physical change by which a child’s body become an adult body is capable of reproducing

testosterone

a steroid hormone secreted by the testes and the adrenal cortex that stimulates the development of male secondary sex characteristics

radioactive iodine treatment

the oral administration of radioactive iodine to destroy thyroid cells

thymitis

inflammation of the thymus gland

thymectomy

the surgical removal of the thymus gland

thymosin

hormone secreted by the thymus gland that stimulates the maturation of lymphocytes into T cells of the immune system

thyroxine

one of the primary hormones secreted by the thyroid gland that regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of other body systems