HOSA Medical Terminology - The Endocrine System

acr/o

extremeties (hands and feet), top, extreme point

adren/o

adrenal glands

crin/o

secrete

-dipsia

thirst

glyc/o

glucose, sugar

gonad/o

gonad, sex glands

-ism

condition, state of

pancreat/o

pancreas

parathyroid/o

parathyroid glands

pineal/o

pituitary gland

pituitar/o

pituitary gland

poly-

many

somato

body

thym/o

thymus gland

thyr/o, thyroid/o

thyroid gland

acromegaly (ack-roh-MEG-ah-lee)

enlargement of the extremities caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone after puberty

Addison's disease

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

adrenalitis (ah-dree-nal-EYE-tis)

inflammation of the adrenal glands

aldosteronism (al-DOSS-teh-roh-niz-em)

an abnormality of electrolyte balance caused by the excessive secretion of aldosterone

antidiuretic hormone (an-tih-dye-you-RET-ick)

secreted by the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland, helps control blood pressure by reducing the amount of water that is excreted through the kidneys

calcitonin (kal-sih-TOH-nin)

a hormone that works with the parathyroid hormone to decrease calcium levels in the blood and tissues by moving calcium into storage in the bones and teeth

Conn's syndrome (KONS)

a disorder of the adrenal glands caused by the excessive production of aldosterone

cortisol (KOR-tih-sol)

aka hydrocortisone, a corticosteroid that has an anti-inflammatory action. It also helps regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins in the body

cretinism (CREE-tin-izm)

congenital lack of thyroid secretion

Cushing's syndrome (KUSH-ingz)

a condition caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol

diabetes insipidus (dye-ah-BEE-teez in-SIP-ih-dus)

a condition caused by insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone or by the inability of the kidneys to respond to this hormone

diabetes mellitus (dye-ah-BEE-teez in-SIP-ih-dus)

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

diabetic retinopathy (ret-ih-NOP-ah-thee)

damage to the retina as a complication of uncontrolled diabetes

electrolytes (ee-LECK-troh-lytes)

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

epinephrine (ep-ih-NEF-rin)

aka adrenaline, stimulates the sympathetic nervous system in response to physical injury or to mental stress such as fear; it makes the heart beat faster and can raise blood pressure; it also helps the liver release glucose and limits the release of insulin

estrogen (ES-troh-jen)

a hormone secreted by the ovaries that is important in the development and maintenance of the female secondary sex characteristics and in regulation of the menstrual cycle

exophthalmos (eck-sof-THAL-mos)

an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball out of the orbit

follicle-stimulating hormone (FOL-lick-kul)

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

fructosamine test (frick-TOHS-ah-meen)

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

gestational diabetes mellitus (jes-TAY-shun-al-dye-ah-BEE-teez MEL-ih-tus)

diabetes that develops during pregnancy and that usually resolves after pregnancy

gigantism (jigh-GAN-tiz-em)

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

glucagon (GLOO-kah-gon)

the hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets in response to low levels of glucose in the bloodstream

glucose (GLOO-kohs)

aka blood sugar; the basic form of energy used by the body

Graves' disease (GRAYVZ)

an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system stimulates the thyroid to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone

growth hormone

hormone secreted by anterior pituitary gland that stimulates growth of bones

gynecomastia (guy-neh-koh-MAS-tee-ah)

the condition of excessive mammary development in the male caused by a decrease in testosterone

Hashimoto's disease

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

hypercalcemia (high-per-kal-SEE-mee-ah)

abnormally high concentrations of calcium circulating in the blood

hyperglycemia (high-per-gyle-SEE-mee-ah)

high blood sugar

hyperinsulinism (high-per-IN-suh-lin-izm)

the condition of excessive secretion of insulin in the bloodstream

hyperpituitarism (high-per-pih-TOO-ih-tah-rizm)

the excess secretion of growth hormone that causes acromegaly and gigantism

hypoglycemia (high-poh-gly-SEE-mee-ah)

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

hypothyroidism (high-poh-THIGH-roid-izm)

a disorder caused by a thyroid gland that is slower and less productive than normal

insulin (IN-suh-lin)

a hormone secreted by special cells in the pancreas in response to (among other things) increased blood glucose concentration. The primary role of insulin is to control the transport of glucose from the bloodstream into the muscle and fat cells.

insulinoma (in-suh-lin-OH-mah)

a benign tumor of the pancreas that causes hypoglycemia by secreting additional insulin

ketosis (kee-TOH-sis)

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

laparoscopic adrenalectomy (lap-ah-roh-SKOP--cik ah-dree-nal-ECK-toh-mee)

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

leptin (LEP-tin)

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

luteinizing hormone (LOO-tee-in-eye-zing)

stimulates ovulation in the female. In the male, the luteinizing hormone stimulates the secretion of testosterone.

myxedema (mick-seh-DEE-mah)

a severe form of adult hypothyroidism caused by extreme deficiency of thyroid secretion

norepinephrine (nor-ep-ih-NEF-rin)

a neurotransmitter that controls alertness and arousal; an under-supply can depress mood

oxytocin (OCK-see-TOH-sin)

a hormone that stimulates the mammary glands to eject milk during lactation and the uterus to contract during childbirth

pancreatitis (pan-kree-ah-TYE-tis)

an inflammation of the pancreas

parathyroidectomy (par-ah-thigh-roi-DECK-toh-mee)

the surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands

pituitary adenoma (pih-TOO-ih-tair-ee ad-eh-NOH-mah)

a slow-growing, benign tumor of the pituitary gland that may or may not cause excess hormone secretion

polydipsia (pol-ee-DIP-see-ah)

excessive thirst

polyphagia (pol-ee-FAY-jee-ah)

excessive hunger

polyuria (pol-ee-YOU-ree-ah)

excessive urination and is a common symptom of diabetes

prediabetes (pree-dye-ah-BEE-teez)

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

progesterone (proh-JES-ter-ohn)

the hormone released during the second half of the menstrual cycle by the corpus luteum in the ovary. Its function is to complete the preparation of the uterus for possible pregnancy

prolactinoma (proh-lack-tih-NOH-mah)

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

puberty (PYU-ber-tee)

the process of physical changes by which a child's body becomes an adult body that is capable of reproducing

radioactive iodine treatment

oral administration of radioactive iodine to destroy thyroid cells

steroids (STEHR-oidz)

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

testosterone (tes-TOS-teh-rohn)

a steroid hormone secreted by the testicles and the adrenal cortex to stimulate the development of male secondary sex characteristics

thymectomy (thigh-MECK-toh-mee)

surgical removal of the thymus gland

thymitis (thigh-MY-tis)

inflammation of the thymus gland

thymosin (THIGH-moh-sin)

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

thyroxine (thigh-ROCK-sin)

aka T4; one of the two primary thyroid hormones that regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of many other body systems