Endocrine System

adren/o

Adrenal glands (the endocrine glands located on top of each kidney responsible for producing hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline.)

gonad/o

Gonads (reproductive glands that produce gametes and sex hormones.)

testic/o

Male:testicles

ovari/o

Female: ovaries

pancreat/o

Pancreatic Islets(Controls blood sugar levels and glucose metabolism.)

parathyroid/o

Parathyroid Glands(Regulate calcium levels throughout the body.)

pineal/o

Pineal Gland(Influences the sleep–wakefulness cycle.)

pituit/o,

pituitar/o

Pituitary Gland(Secretes hormones that control the activity of the other endocrine glands.)

thym/o

Thymus(Plays a major role in the immune reaction.)

thyr/o,

thyroid/o

Thyroid Gland(Stimulates metabolism, growth, and the activity of the nervous system.)

acr/o

extremities (hands and feet), top, extreme point

crino/o

secrete

-dipsia

thirst

glyc/o

glucose, sugar

-ism

condition, state of

pancreat/o

pancreas

parathyroid/o

parathyroid glands

pineal/o

pineal gland

pituitar/o

pituitary gland

poly-

many

somat/o

body

thym/o

thymus gland

acromegaly

a rare hormonal disorder characterized by abnormal enlargement of the extremities (hands and feet) caused by the 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

inflammation of the adrenal gland

aldosteronism

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

antidiuretic hormone

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

produced by the thyroid gland; 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.

corticosteroids

steroid hormones produced by the adrenal cortex.

cortisol

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

cretinism

a congenital form of hypothyroidism.

Cushing’s syndrome

a condition caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol.

diabetes insipidus

an uncommon disorder caused by insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone or by the inability of the kidneys to respond to this hormone.

diabetes mellitus

a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in the body’s production of insulin (type 1) or its ability to use it properly (type 2).

diabetic ketoacidosis

a life-threatening diabetes complication caused by a buildup of acids (called ketones) in the blood.

diabetic retinopathy

damage to the retina as a complication of uncontrolled diabetes.

electrolytes

mineral substances--calcium, chloride, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium--that are normally found in the blood and other bodily fluids.

epinephrine

also known as adrenaline, stimulates the sympathetic nervous system in response to physical injury or to mental stress such as fear.

estrogen

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

exophthalmos

an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball out of the orbit.

follicle-stimulating hormone

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

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

gestational diabetes mellitus

a form of diabetes that occurs during some pregnancies.

gigantism

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

glucagon

hormone secreted by the alpha cells of the pancreatic islets in response to low levels of glucose in the bloodstream; increases the glucose level by stimulating the liver to convert glycogen into glucose for release into the bloodstream.

glucose

basic form of energy used by the body.

Graves’ disease

a disorder of unknown cause in which the immune system attacks the thyroid gland and stimulates it to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone.

growth hormone

also known as somatotropic hormone; 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.

hypercalcemia

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

hyperglycemia

an abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood.

hyperinsulinism

a condition of excessive secretion of insulin in the bloodstream

hyperpituitarism

the excess secretion of growth hormone that causes acromegaly and gigantism.

hyperthyroidism

the overproduction of thyroid hormones.

hypoglycemia

an abnormally low concentration of glucose in the blood.

hypothyroidism

a condition caused by a deficiency of thyroid secretion.

insulin

hormone secreted by the beta cells of the pancreatic islets in response to high levels of glucose in the bloodstream.

insulinoma

a benign tumor of the pancreas that secretes additional insulin, causing hypoglycemia.

ketosis

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

laparoscopic adrenalectomy

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

leptin

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

luteinizing hormone

stimulates ovulation in the female; in the male, stimulates the secretion of testosterone.

myxedema

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

norepinephrine

released as a hormone by the adrenal medulla and as a neurohormone by the sympathetic nervous system.

oxytocin

stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth; after childbirth, oxytocin controls postnatal hemorrhage and stimulates the flow of milk from the mammary glands.

pancreatitis

inflammation of the pancreas

parathyroidectomy

surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands.

pituitary adenoma

a slow-growing, benign tumor of the pituitary gland, functional pituitary tumors often produce hormones in large and unregulated amounts.

polydipsia

excessive thirst.

polyphagia

excessive hunger

polyuria

excessive urination.

prediabetes

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

progesterone

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

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

puberty

process of physical changes by which a child’s body becomes an adult body that is capable of reproducing; marked by maturing of the genital organs, development of secondary sex characteristics, and the first occurrence of menstruation in the female.

radioactive iodine treatment

oral administration of radioactive iodine to destroy thyroid cells.

steroids

a large family of hormones derived from cholesterol.

testosterone

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

thymectomy

surgical removal of the thymus gland.

thymosin

plays an important part in the immune system by stimulating the maturation of lymphocytes into T cells.

thyroxine

one of two primary thyroid hormones (the other is triiodothyronine) that regulate the rate of metabolism and affect the growth and rate of function of many other body systems.

Homeostasis

is the process through which the body maintains a constant internal environment

Hormones

are chemical messengers that are secreted by endocrine glands directly into the bloodstream

Endocrine glands

which produce hormones, do not have ducts

pituitary gland, or

hypophysis

is a pea-sized gland that is divided into two parts, the anterior and the posterior lobes. These lobes hang from a stalk-like structure located below the hypothalamus in the brain

adrenocorticotropic hormone

stimulates the growth and secretions of the adrenal cortex

lactogenic hormone

stimulates and maintains the secretion of breast milk in the mother after childbirth

melanocyte-stimulating hormone

increases the production of melanin in melanocytes, thereby causing darkening of skin pigmentation. MSH production usually increases during pregnancy.

thyroid-stimulating hormone

stimulates the secretion of hormones by the thyroid gland.

diuretic

is administered to increase the amount of urine secretion.

Pitocin

is a synthetic form of oxytocin that is administered to induce or speed up labor.

pineal gland

is a very small endocrine gland, also known as the

pineal body

. It is located in the central portion of the brain and takes its name from the Latin word for pinecone, referring to the shape of the gland.

melatonin

influences the sleep–wakefulness portions of the circadian cycle.

circadian cycle

refers to the biological functions that occur within a 24-hour period.

thyroid gland

butterfly shaped, lies on either side of the larynx, just below the thyroid cartilage

metabolism

describes all of the processes involved in the body’s use of nutrients, including the rate at which they are used. Thyroid secretions also influence growth and the functioning of the nervous system.

triiodothyronine

The rate of secretion of these two hormones is controlled by the thyroid-stimulating hormone produced by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

The four

parathyroid glands

each of which is about the size of a grain of rice, are embedded in the posterior surface of the thyroid gland

parathyroid hormone

which works with the hormone calcitonin that is secreted by the thyroid gland. Together, they regulate the calcium levels in the blood and tissues.