GLANDS, TERMINOLOGIES AND DISORDERS THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM The endocrine system is the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism; growth; changes and development; maturation; tissue function; sexual function; reproduction, sleep, homeostasis and mood. The word endocrine derives from the Greek words "endo," meaning within, and "crinis," meaning to secrete. In general, a gland selects and removes materials from the blood, processes them and secretes the finished chemical product for use somewhere in the body. The endocrine system affects almost every organ and cell in the body. The endocrine system is made up of the pineal gland, pituitary gland, hypothalamus, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands, pancreas, ovaries (in females) and the testicles (in males). Glands The Pineal body is develops from the diencephalon of the brain. it secretes the hormone melatonin, which is an inhibitory hormone and probably regulates circadian rhythms. Melatonin has a psychologically depressing effect in some individuals as recent research depicts this hormone is associated with Parkinsonism. The pituitary gland also known as the hypophysis is controlled by the hypothalamus. is divided into the anterior pituitary, or adenohypophysis, and a posterior pituitary, or neurohypophysis. The hypothalamus is located at the base of the brain and produces the hormones Oxytocin and Antidiuretic. The thyroid gland secretes three specific hormones. Two major hormones produced by the thyroid glands are T3, or triiodothyronine and T4, or thyroxine. The other hormone of the thyroid gland is calcitonin. Calcitonin decreases blood calcium levels by causing secretion of calcium by the kidneys and deposition of calcium in bones. Glands In the posterior portion of the thyroid are two parts of organs called the parathyroid glands. Chief cells in the parathyroid glands secretes parathyroid hormone (PTH), or parathormone, which is responsible for increasing calcium levels in the blood. The thymus gland is a lymph gland located anterior and superior to the heart. It secretes the hormone, thymosin that causes the maturation of T cells. The adrenal gland is composed of two (2) portions; the outer cortex and the inner medulla. The hormones secreted from the adrenal cortex are called corticosteroid hormones. The adrenal medulla is the central portion of the gland and secretes epinephrine and norepinephrine Glands The pancreas is located behind the stomach it is a mixed gland as it possesses both endocrine as well as exocrine functions. The exocrine function is digestive in nature because pancreatic juice contains both buffers and digestive enzymes secreting it into a duct that leads to the small intestine. The endocrine function of the pancreas consists of the secretion of the hormones insulin and glucagon, into the bloodstream which regulate blood glucose levels. In females the ovaries produce estrogen and progesterone. Ovaries are also considered a mixed gland that produces hormones as an endocrine function and oocytes (eggs) as an exocrine function. In the male, the testes produce testosterone, which is a hormone responsible for secondary sex characteristics such as the development of facial and body hair, the expansion of the larynx etc. The endocrine function is testosterone production, and the exocrine function is the production of spermatozoa. Other Glands with Endocrine Functions Other parts of the endocrine System include: The heart The stomach The kidneys And the Gonads produce sex hormones and are thus considered endocrine glands. MEDICAL TERMINOLOGIES USED WITHIN THIS SYSTEM INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO ENDO meaning within CRINIS meaning to secrete ADREN meaning glands IT IS meaning inflammation ISM meaning condition GLY meaning glucose EMIA meaning blood condition OID meaning like or similar Disorders include: Diabetes which is the most common endocrine disorder diagnosed. It is a condition in which the body does not properly process glucose due to the lack of insulin. There are two types: Type 1. Diabetes which is all about insulin- it means that the body does not produce enough of the hormone insulin to handle the glucose in your body. Type 2 Diabetes also known as mellitus is more common than type 1 diabetes. Patients with type 2 diabetes still produce insulin, however the cells in the muscles, liver and fat tissue are inefficient at absorbing the insulin and regulating glucose. Osteoporosis means “porous bone” and it’s a disorder characterized by “holey” bones. With osteoporosis your bones become weak and prone to fracture. disorders Thyroid cancer begins in the thyroid gland and starts when the cells in the thyroid begin to change, grow uncontrollably and eventually form a tumor. There are four types: Papillary and or mixed papillary/ follicular thyroid cancer 80% Follicular and or hurthle cell thyroid cancer 15% Medullary thyroid cancer 3% Anaplastic thyroid cancer 2% Addison’s disease is a rear disorder that affects men and women of all ages, it is also referred to as primary adrenaline insufficiency. It is developed when your adrenaline glands does not produce enough or releases too little of the hormone cortisol and sometimes, aldosterone. Disorders Cushing's disease. Overproduction of a pituitary gland hormone (cortisol) leads to an overactive adrenal gland. In Grave’s disease, your immune system creates antibodies which causes then thyroid to grow and make more thyroid hormone than your body needs. These antibodies are called thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulins (TSIs). The TSIs then trick the thyroid into growing and producing too much thyroid hormones, T4 and T3 which leads to Hyperthyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is when the thyroid gland produces too much thyroid hormone, leading to weight loss, fast heart rate, sweating, and nervousness. The most common cause for an overactive thyroid is an autoimmune disorder called Grave's disease. Disorders Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the body lacks sufficient thyroid hormone. There are two fairly common causes of hypothyroidism; the 1st is inflammation of the thyroid gland and the second is “medical treatment”. Due to the fact that many procedures require surgical removal, the body isn’t left with enough thyroid producing cells to meet the body’s needs. Gigantism (acromegaly) and other growth hormone problems. If the pituitary gland produces too much growth hormone. Hypoglycemia. Also called low blood glucose or low blood sugar, occurs when blood glucose drops below normal levels. Hyperglycemia means high (hyper) glucose (gly) in the blood (emia). Hyperglycemia is a defining characteristic of diabetes-when the blood glucose is too high because the body isn’t properly using or doesn’t make the hormone insulin. There are two types: Fasting Hyperglycemia is when you don’t eat for at least 8 hours and Postprandial or reactive hyperglycemia occurs after you eat Tests done by Endocrinologists An endocrinologist uses three tests to diagnose diabetes; A random plasma glucose test measures blood sugar without regard to when the patient last ate. A fasting plasma glucose test looks at blood sugar in a patient who has not eaten for at least eight hours. And An oral glucose tolerance test gauges blood sugar after a patient fasts for at least eight hours, and two hours after he drinks a sugary solution. THYROID. The TSH test, which measures thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood, is the primary test an endocrinologist gives to diagnose thyroid disease. Endocrinologists also administer T4 and T3 tests. The thyroid-stimulating immunoglobulin test and the antithyroid antibody test tell an endocrinologist whether a patient has Graves' disease or another autoimmune disorder that destroys the thyroid and Finally, the radioactive iodine uptake test and a thyroid scan. TESTS GROWTH. An endocrinologist orders tests to diagnose growth-hormone conditions. an oral glucose tolerance test to detect excessive hormones, which cause extreme height, increased head size, headaches, cardiac dysfunction, high blood pressure and prediabetes. To check for growthhormone deficiency, an endocrinologist may administer a growthhormone stimulation blood test. To checks the body's ability to lower its blood sugar following an overnight fast and order magnetic-resonance imaging of the pituitary and hypothalamus glands to see if a tumor is causing growth-hormone problems. REPRODUCTION A serum progesterone test measures the level of the hormone progesterone and indicates whether ovulation has occurred. A follicle-stimulating hormone blood test reveals whether a woman has enough healthy eggs for fertility. BONE. An endocrinologist may order a test to check the level of calcium in the blood, as well as a 24-hour urine test to measure calcium in the urine. An endocrinologist may order a test to check the level of calcium in the blood, as well as a 24-hour urine test to measure calcium in the urine TESTUBES Grey tops are used for glucose testing Green tops for other disorders.
