Lesson 9 Endocrine Diseases and Disorders

Anterior Pituitary Gland

the anterior part of the pituitary gland; an endocrine gland whose secretions are controlled by the hypothalamic hormones

Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)

A hormone produced by the pituitary gland when the body is dehydrated (has low blood volume). It causes the kidneys to reabsorb more water into the blood making the urine more concentrated.

Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

hormone secreted by the heart when there is an increase in blood flow (an increase in blood volume) which increases sodium and water excretion by the kidney in the form of urine

acromegaly

results from the overproduction of Growth Hormone (secreted from the anterior pituitary gland) which causes abnormal growth of the hands, feet and face

Addison's disease

a rare, chronic condition in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol or aldosterone

adenoma

benign glandular tissue tumor

calcitonin

a hormone that lowers blood calcium levels (to maintain blood calcium homeostasis)

calcitriol

a hormone produced from vitamin D that promotes absorption of calcium from foods in the gastrointestinal tract

Cortisol (glucocorticoid)

stress hormone released by the adrenal cortex that promotes gluconeogenesis and lipolysis. It is also an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant.

Cretinism

a congenital form of hypothyroidism

Cushing's syndrome

a condition caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol

Diabetes Insipidus

Anti-diuretic hormone is not secreted adequately, or the kidney is resistant to its effect.
This creates an imbalance of body fluids leading to constant thirst and a large production of urine (as much as 20 quarts/day)
(So not related to insulin or blood glucose levels!)

Diabetes Mellitus

insulin is not secreted adequately or tissues are resistant to its effects

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

Acidity of the blood caused by the presence of ketone bodies which produced when there is:
a) hyperglycemia combined with a prolonged insulin deficit.
b) Lipolysis occurs to provide ATP to cells (as no glucose avail.)
c) Toxic ketoacids accumulate in the blood and urine.
d) Dehydration occurs due to glucosuria and ketonuria (osmotic diuresis causing polyuria).
e) Oliguria follows (due to dehydration) meaning that ketoacids are no longer peed out and accumulate in the blood
f) Electrolyte imbalance (from initial polyuria), acidosis, and cellular dehydration can cause: cerebral edema, cardiac dysrhythmias, and coma)

Diabetic Macular Edema

thickening of the center of the retina due to leaking blood vessels

Diabetic Nephrosclerosis

progressive damage to the glomeruli leads to leakage of proteins (proteinuria), inflammation, and then accumulation of proteins within the matrix (leading to hardening, necrosis, fibrosis, ischemia and subsequent atrophy of the kidney)

epinephrine

Neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress.

Fasting Blood Sugar Test

measures the glucose (blood sugar) levels after the patient has not eaten for 8-12 hours. Normal is <100mg/dL

glucagon

A hormone secreted by the pancreatic alpha cells that increases blood glucose concentration to maintain blood glucose homeostasis (70-110 mg/dL)

Growth Hormone (GH)

Hormone that stimulates growth and maintenance of tissue/organs in general; produced in the anterior pituitary gland

glucosuria

abnormally high glucose in urine. Either from increased plasma glucose or impaired renal glucose absorptive capacity

Goiter

abnormal enlargement of thyroid gland, often painless but can cause cough and difficulty breathing and swallowing

Graves' Disease

an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the thyroid gland, abnormally stimulating the secretion of excessive thyroid hormones

Gestational Diabetes

a form of diabetes mellitus that occurs during some pregnancies, possibly due to placenta producing high levels of hormones that impair the action of insulin

gluconeogenesis

The formation of glucose from noncarbohydrate sources, such as amino acids.

glucosuria

presence of glucose in the urine

Glucose Tolerance Test

A test of the body's ability to metabolize glucose that involves the administration of a measured dose of glucose to the fasting stomach and the determination of blood glucose levels in the blood or urine at intervals thereafter and that is used especially to detect diabetes.

glycogenesis

formation of glycogen from glucose

glycolysis

the breakdown of glucose by enzymes, producing ATP and pyruvic acid.

Glycosylated hemoglobin Test

-measures % of hemoglobin that has glucose attached
-Normal <5.7%, over 65y <7%, frail elderly <8%
-measures long term blood sugar levels over last 60-90days
-reflects exposure of hemoglobin +other proteins to circulating glucose

Hashimoto's thyroiditis

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

hypoglyemia

Low Blood Sugar. 60 mg/dl or less.

hypothalamus

A neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (eating, drinking, body temperature), helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion and reward.

hyperglycemia

high levels of glucose in the blood when the body does not produce or use enough insulin.

insulin

A protein hormone synthesized in the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into tissues

ketone bodies

the product of the incomplete breakdown of fat when glucose is not available in the cells

ketonuria

ketones in the urine

lipolysis

breakdown of fat for the production of ATP

melanin

A pigment that gives the skin, hair, and irises their colour

melatonin

A hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepiness.

Myxedema

a severe form of hypothyroidism that can occur when the condition is not treated or not treated as much as necessary. The skin appears swollen and puffy.

Metabolic Syndrome

A syndrome marked by the presence of usually three or more of a group of factors (as high blood pressure, abdominal obesity, high triglyceride levels, low HDL levels, and high fasting levels of blood sugar) that are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.

negative feedback loop

an opposite action to what is occurring in the body to regain homeostasis, ex. if body temperature rises too high, body tries to lower it

neuropathy

damage to nerves usually due to ischemia

norepinephrine

a neurotransmitter whose action is similar to that of the hormone epinephrine playing a role in the sympathetic nervous system

oxytocin

A hormone produced by the hypothalamus that i released by the posterior pituitary. It stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding.

parathyroid hormone

increases blood calcium levels by stimulating the bones to release calcium in order to maintain blood calcium homeostasis. A hormone of the parathyroid gland that regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus in the body.

pheochromocytoma

a benign tumor of the adrenal medulla that causes the gland to produce excess epinephrine

preeclampsia

abnormal condition associated with pregnancy, marked by high blood pressure, proteinuria, edema, and headache

prolactin

stimulates milk production

polydipsia

excessive or abnormally great thirst

polyphagia

extreme appetite/hunger for food.

polyuria

excessive/abnormally large production or passage of urine

positive feedback loop

feedback loop that causes a system to change further in the same direction.

Posterior Pituitary Gland

also known as the neurohypophysis; it is made up of nervous tissue/neurons and stores and secretes 2 hormones made by the hypothalamus (oxytocin and ADH); it is controlled by action potentials from the hypothalamus

Random Blood Sugar Test

blood sample taken and random time regardless of when you last ate
>200mg/dL = diabetes

Radioimmunoassay

Test combines radioactive chemicals and antibodies to detect minute quantities of substances (antigens, hormones, proteins) in a patient's blood.

retinopathy

disease of the retina

somatotropin

Also known as human growth hormone. Stimulates growth, cell replication, and cell regeneration. It is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland.

Sugar Cataracts

The lens becomes opaque as metabolites (sorbital) & therefore water accumulate. This makes the lens swell and lens fiber rupture so that the lens is no longer transparent.

Thymus

Gland in the thoracic cavity above the heart where T lymphocytes mature.

Thyroid Gland

endocrine that surround the trachea in the neck and produces thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism, body heat, and bone growth. Thyroid hormone are also crucial for CNS development.

Thyroid Hormone

stimulates cellular metabolism and growth

Type I Diabetes

an autoimmune disorder characterized by lack of insulin production by the beta cells of the pancreas

Type II Diabetes

type of diabetes in which the body produces insulin but the insulin cannot be used by body cells. The body cells are insulin resistant.