Endocrine Word Parts
adrenal cortex
the outer layer of an adrenal gland
adrenal glands
two glands, one located on each kidney, that are responsible for the body's adrenaline rush; each adrenal gland has two layers
adrenal medulla
the inner layer of an adrenal gland
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
a hormone that controls adrenal gland function, influencing the production of cortisol
aldosterone
a hormone that regulates blood pressure, electrolyte concentrations, and fluid volume in the body
Alpha cells
one group of the islets of Langerhans, which are responsible for secreting glucagon
Beta cells
one group of the islets of Langerhans, which are responsible for the release of insulin
calcitonin
a hormone that stimulates the deposit of calcium into bone and lowers blood calcium levels
catecholamines
a class of hormones that are released during times of stress, creating an adrenaline rush
circadian rhythm
the body's 24-hour sleep-and-waking cycle
corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
a hormone that increases production of adrenocorticotropic hormone in the pituitary gland
cortisol
a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels and helps metabolize carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
cortisone
a hormone that regulates blood glucose levels
electrolytes
electrically charged particles that help maintain homeostasis in the body
endocrine glands
glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream
epinephrine
a hormone that intensifies stress and triggers the body's fight-or-flight response, causing increased heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration; also known as adrenaline
estrogen
the female sex hormone that controls the development and maintenance of female characteristics
exocrine glands
glands that secrete fluids and hormones via ducts that carry these products to their destinations
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates ova production and the release of estrogen during menstruation
glucagon
a hormone that stimulates the liver to increase blood glucose levels, when needed
glucocorticoids
hormones involved in metabolizing carbohydrates, proteins, and fats
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
a hormone that regulates the release of reproductive hormones in both males and females
gonads
glands that are responsible for producing gametes
growth-hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH)
a hormone that decreases the production of growth hormone in the pituitary gland
growth-hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
a hormone that stimulates the release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland
homeostasis
a stable state, or equilibrium, among the various organs and systems of the body
hormones
chemicals that affect body functions
hypothalamus
a gland that serves as the control center of the autonomic nervous system, regulating heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and many other involuntary body functions
insulin
a hormone that aids in the absorption of sugar
luteinizing hormone (LH)
a hormone that stimulates the testes to produce testosterone, plays a role in ova production, and helps to regulate the menstrual cycle
melatonin
a hormone that regulates the body's circadian rhythm
metabolism
the processes by which the body absorbs and uses nutrients
mineralocorticoids
hormones that help maintain electrolyte balance and regulate blood pressure
norepinephrine
a hormone that prepares the body for the stress response and acts as a vasoconstrictor by narrowing blood vessels
ovaries
two oval-shaped organs, located on either side of the uterus, which are the female gonads, are filled with millions of ova, and secrete estrogen and progesterone
oxytocin
a hormone that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and milk production when a woman is breastfeeding
pancreas
an organ that is responsible for producing many different enzymes that aid in the digestion process
parathyroid glands
two pairs of tiny, rice-shaped glands that are located behind the "wings" of the thyroid and which secrete parathyroid hormone
parathyroid hormone (PTH)
a hormone that increases blood calcium levels and stimulates the breakdown of bone
pineal gland
a small, cone-shaped gland located in the thalamus region of the brain that releases melatonin in response to decreased light levels
pituitary gland
a pea-sized gland located just below the hypothalamus, which has two lobes; also known as the master gland
anterior pituitary
the part of the pituitary gland that is under the direction of hormones produced by the hypothalamus, and which releases adrenocorticotropic hormone and thyroid-stimulating hormone
posterior pituitary
the part of the pituitary gland that secretes antidiuretic hormone and produces oxytocin
progesterone
a hormone produced by the ovaries in women to help regulate the menstrual cycle and promote breast development in puberty
testes
two oval-shaped glands located in the scrotal sac of a male, which are the male gonads and secrete testosterone; also known as testicles
testosterone
a hormone that regulates the secondary sex characteristics in males
thymosin
a hormone that assists with the development and maturation of immune cells
thyroid gland
a butterfly-shaped gland that is located in the throat and which regulates metabolism by releasing triiodothyronine and thyroxine
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
a hormone that is released by the pituitary gland and regulates thyroid function
thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
a hormone that controls the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone
thyroxine (T4)
a hormone that controls metabolism and body temperature
triiodothyronine (T3)
a hormone that controls metabolism and body temperature
tropins
hormones that help control the release of other hormones in the body; also known as tropic hormones
acidosis
an increase in the acidity of blood, body fluids, and tissues due to an excess of hydrogen ions
acromegaly
enlargement of the face, feet, and hands; results from malfunction of the hypothalamus or the anterior pituitary gland, which causes hypersecretion of GH
Addison's disease
disease resulting from insufficient secretion of cortisol and sometimes aldosterone; characterized by progressive anemia, hypotension, hypoglycemia, fatigue, increased skin pigmentation, joint pain, and loss of appetite
adenocarcinoma
malignant tumor of a gland or mucus-secreting organ, including cancers of the pancreas, lung, prostate, colon, and esophagus
adrenal feminization
pathological development of female secondary sex characteristics in a male
adrenal virilism
presence or development of male secondary sex characteristics in a female
cretinism
congenital hypothyroidism due to lack of thyroid hormone secretion; characterized by delayed or abnormal physical and mental development
Cushing's syndrome
condition resulting from the hypersecretion of cortisol; may be caused by a tumor or prolonged use of steroids
diabetes insipidus (DI)
rare type of diabetes caused by inadequate secretion of ADH by the posterior pituitary gland; characterized by excessive thirst, which is called polydipsia, and by excessive urination, which is called polyuria
diabetes mellitus (DM)
insufficient production of insulin or the body's inability to use insulin efficiently; characterized by high blood glucose, which is called hyperglycemia, and by glucose in the urine, which is called glycosuria
type 1 diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, IDDM)
diabetes mellitus in which insulin secretion is deficient due to abnormalities in the islets of Langerhans, causing hyperglycemia
type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, NIDDM)
diabetes mellitus in which insulin production may be normal, but the body cannot use the insulin efficiently, nor can it increase insulin production sufficiently to compensate
diabetic ketoacidosis
a complication of diabetes in which the body produces acidic ketone bodies as a result of high blood glucose levels
diabetic retinopathy
a complication of diabetes mellitus that results in damage to the retina of the eye
dwarfism
genetic or medical condition of being abnormally small or short, usually defined as an adult height of 4′10″ or less
edema
localized or general condition of excessive fluid retention and swelling in body tissues; may be caused by a number of endocrine diseases or conditions
exophthalmos
abnormal protrusion of the eyeball, usually due to hyperthyroidism
gigantism
excessive growth of body parts, often due to hypersecretion of growth hormone
Graves' disease
autoimmune condition that results in hyperthyroidism; characterized by bulging eyeballs and an enlarged thyroid gland
gynecomastia
condition of abnormally large mammary glands in a male
hirsutism
condition characterized by excessive growth of hair or presence of body hair in unusual places, especially in women
hyperparathyroidism
excessive production of parathyroid hormone that results in degeneration of the bones; also known as von Recklinghausen's disease of bone
insulinoma
tumor of the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans that causes the beta cells to keep secreting insulin even when a person's blood glucose is very low
myxedema
severe form of hypothyroidism that occurs in older children and adults; characterized by puffy skin and swelling of the laryngeal and pharyngeal mucous membranes
obesity
abnormal amount of fat on the body; more than 20 percent over average weight for age, gender, build, and height
panhypopituitarism
condition of inadequate secretion, or total lack of secretion, of anterior pituitary hormones
peripheral neuropathy
damage to the nerves that causes pain and weakness, particularly in the hands and feet
pheochromocytoma
tumor of the adrenal glands that secretes excess epinephrine and norepinephrine, resulting in pounding headaches, hypertension, palpitations, paleness, and shortness of breath
syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
syndrome of excessive secretion of antidiuretic hormone, which increases blood volume
tetany
nervous excitability and muscle spasms caused by parathyroid hormone deficiency and inadequate calcium levels
thyrotoxicosis
general term for a group of conditions caused by increases in T3 and T4 in the blood
blood serum tests
a group of tests in which blood is measured for specific levels of hormones and other substances to determine how well specific endocrine glands and organs are functioning
catecholamines tests
tests that are usually performed to detect or monitor pheochromocytoma or neuroblastoma; done through a blood sample or 24-hour urine sample
fasting blood sugar (FBS)
a test in which blood is measured to determine the glucose levels in a patient's blood after the patient has not eaten for 12 hours
glucose tolerance test (GTT)
blood test used to determine the body's response to insulin
human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) tests
tests used to monitor the level of human chorionic gonadotropin in the body; can be qualitative or quantitative
protein-bound iodine test (PBI)
blood test that measures thyroid activity indirectly by determining the amount of protein-bound iodine in the blood
radioimmunoassay (RIA)
sensitive blood test in which a radioactive chemical is injected into the patient's blood to help measure very small concentrations of substances, particularly protein-bound hormones, in blood plasma
thyroid and/or parathyroid ultrasound
ultrasound test of the thyroid and/or parathyroid glands; used to check the sizes of these glands or to determine whether a lump is a simple cyst or a solid tumor
thyroid function test (TFT)
panel of tests used to determine how well the thyroid is functioning
long-acting thyroid stimulator (LATS) test
a thyroid function test used to detect long-acting thyroid stimulator in the blood; can lead to hyperthyroidism
thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) test
a thyroid function test that measures the amount of TSH in the blood; considered to be the most accurate measure of thyroid activity
thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) test
a thyroid function test that measures the levels of thyroxine-binding globulin in the blood
thyroxine (T4) test
a thyroid function test that measures the amounts of T4 in the blood
triiodothyronine resin uptake (T3RU) test
a thyroid function test that measures the amounts of T4 in the blood by testing for levels of T3RU
triiodothyronine (T3) test
a thyroid function test that measures the amounts of T3 in the blood
thyroid scan
test in which a patient swallows or is injected intravenously with a radioactive substance, and a scanning camera is used to record the accumulation of that substance as it moves into the thyroid
laparoscopic adrenalectomy
surgical removal of the adrenal gland through a small incision in the abdomen using a scope
lobectomy
surgical removal of one or more lobes of an organ
parathyroidectomy
surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands
thyroidectomy
surgical removal of part of all of the thyroid gland
antithyroid agents
drugs that block the production of thyroid hormones
hormone replacement therapy
artificial hormone replacement administered orally, intravenously, or topically using transdermal patches
human growth hormone therapy
synthetic hormone replacement for human growth hormone
insulin replacement therapy
natural or synthetic insulin administered to supply needed insulin for patients with type 1 diabetes or severe type 2 diabetes
oral hypoglycemic agents
drugs taken orally to decrease blood glucose
synthetic antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin)
synthetic antidiuretic administered to treat syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH)
synthetic glucocorticoids
synthetic versions of glucocorticoid hormones are sometimes used to treat patients with Addison's disease
thyroid replacement therapy
thyroid hormones administered to treat hypothyroidism; also prescribed for patients who have had a thyroidectomy