Combining Forms

acid/o - acid

acr/o - extremities

aden/o - gland

adren/o - adrenal gland

cortic/o - cortex

crin/o - secrete

gonad/o - sex glands

Words

acidosis (as-ih-DOH-sis) - an increase in the acidity of blood, body fluids, and tissues due to an excess of hydrogen ions

acromegaly (ak-roh-MEG-uh-lee) - enlargement of the face, feet, and hands; results from malfunction of the hypothalamus or the anterior pituitary gland

Addison’s disease (AD-ih-suhnz dih-ZEEZ) - disease resulting from insufficient secretion of cortisol and sometimes aldosterone

adenocarcinoma (ad-uh-noh- kar-sih-NOH-muh) - malignant tumor of a gland or mucus-secreting organ, including cancers of the pancreas, lung, prostate, colon, and esophagus

adrenal cortex (uh-DREE-nuhl KOR-teks) - outer layer of the adrenal gland that secretes a group of glucocorticoids

adrenal glands (uh-DREE-nuhl GLANDZ) - glands on the kidneys responsible for the body’s adrenaline rush

adrenal medulla (uh-DREE-nuhl MEH-doo-luh) - inner layer of the adrenal gland

adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (uh-dree-noh-kor-tih-koh-TROH-pik HOR-mohn) - hormone that controls adrenal gland function influencing the production of cortisol

aldosterone (al-DAHS-tur-ohn) - hormone that regulates blood pressure, electrolyte concentrations, and fluid volume in the body

anterior pituitary (an-TEER-ee-or pih-TOO-ih-ter-ee) - part of the pituitary gland under the direction of hormones produced by the hypothalamus

antidiuretic hormone (ADH) (an-tee-digh-yoo-RET-ik HOR-mohn) - stimulates the kidney to retain water and restricts blood vessels

calcitonin (kal-suh-TOH-nun) - stimulates the deposit of calcium into bone and lowers blood calcium levels

catecholamines (kat-uh-KOHL-uh-meenz) - hormones released during times of stress, creating an adrenaline rush

circadian rhythm (ser-KAY-dee-un RIH-thum) - 24-hour sleep and waking cycle of the body

cortisone (KOR-tih-zohn) - regulates blood glucose levels

cretinism (KREE-tin-izm) - reduced activity of the thyroid gland due to lack of thyroid hormone secretion

Cushing’s syndrome (KUH-shingz SIN-drum) - condition resulting from the hypersecretion of cortisol, may be caused by a tumor or prolonged use of steroids

diabetes insipidus (DI) (DIGH-uh-BEET-eez in-SIP-ih-dus) - rare type of diabetes caused by inadequate secretion of ADH

diabetes mellitus (DM) (DIGH-uh-BEET-eez MEL-ih-tus) - insufficient production of insulin or the body’s inability to use insulin efficiently

diabetic ketoacidosis (digh-uh-BET-ik kee-toh-as-ih-DOH-sis) - complication of diabetes in which the body produces acidic ketone bodies as a result of high blood glucose levels

dwarfism (DWOR-fih-zum) - genetic or medical condition of being abnormally small or short, caused by endocrine dysfunction

edema (uh-DEE-muh) - localized or general condition of excessive fluid retention and swelling in body tissues; may be caused by endocrine diseases or conditions

endocrine glands (EN-duh-krun GLANDZ) - glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream

epinephrine (eh-puh-NEH-fruhn) - intensifies stress and triggers the body’s fight-or-flight response, also known as adrenaline

estrogen (ESS-truh-jun) - stimulates the development of female secondary sex characteristics and regulates the female reproductive system

exocrine glands (EKS-oh-krin GLANDZ) - glands that secrete fluids and hormones via ducts that carry those products to their destinations

Abbreviations

ACTH - adrenocorticotropic hormone

ADH - antidieuretic hormone

CDE - certified diabetes educator

DKA - diabetic ketoacidosis

FBS - fasting blood sugar

FSH - follicle-stimulating hormone