The Language Of
Medicine
Dr. Michael P. Gillespie
CHAPTER 18
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
2
CHAPTER GOALS
Identify the endocrine glands and
their hormones.
 Gain an understanding of the
functions of these hormones in the
body.
 Analyze medical terms related to
the endocrine glands and their
hormones.

3
CHAPTER GOALS
Identify abnormal conditions resulting
from excessive and deficient
secretions of the endocrine glands.
 Describe laboratory tests and clinical
procedures related to endocrinology,
and recognize relevant abbreviations.
 Apply your new knowledge to
understanding medical terms in their
proper contexts, such as medical
reports and records.

4
INTRODUCTION
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Glands release hormones.
 Hormones regulate the many and varied
functions of an organism.
 Hormones bind to receptors.
 Receptors are recognition sites in the
various target tissues on which hormones
act.

5
INTRODUCTION
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

ENDOCRINE glands—
Secrete their hormones directly into
the bloodstream

EXOCRINE glands—
Send chemical substances (tears,
sweat, milk, saliva) via ducts to the
outside of the body
6
ENDOCRINE GLANDS









thyroid gland
parathyroid glands (four glands)
adrenal glands (one pair)
pancreas (islets of Langerhans)
pituitary gland
ovaries (one pair)
testes (one pair)
pineal gland
thymus gland
7
THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
8
THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
9
10
THYROID GLAND
11
THYROID GLAND
12
THYROID FUNCTION

There are two hormones:
 thyroxine
or tetraiodothyronine (T4)
 triiodothyronine (T3).
Thyroid hormones aid cells in their
uptake of oxygen and regulate
metabolic rate.
 Calcitonin: stimulates calcium to
leave the blood and enter the bone.

13
THYROID GLAND:
HORMONES AND ACTIONS
14
PARATHYROID GLAND
15
PARATHYROID GLAND
16
PARATHYROID GLANDS
17
PARATHYROID FUNCTION

Parathyroid hormone (PTH): causes
calcium to mobilize from bones into the
bloodstream
18
ADRENAL GLANDS
19
ADRENAL GLANDS
20
ADRENAL GLANDS:
LOCATION AND STRUCTURE
Each gland has two parts
 an
outer portion, the adrenal cortex
 Secretes
corticosteriods or steriods,
chemicals derived from cholesterol
 an
inner portion, adrenal medulla
 Secretes
catecholamines
chemicals derived from amino acids
21
FUNCTION:
ADRENAL CORTEX SECRETES

Glucocorticoids: influence metabolism of sugars,
fats, and proteins (cortisol) and are anti-inflammatory
(cortisone).
Influences—SUGAR

Mineralocorticoids: regulate electrolytes
 Aldosterone:
reabsorption of
sodium/excretion of potassium.
Influences—SALT

Gonadocorticoids: androgens and estrogens.
Influences—SEX
22
FUNCTION
ADRENAL MEDULLA SECRETES

Two types of catecholamine hormones

Epinephrine (adrenaline): increases heart
rate and blood pressure, dilates bronchial
tubes, releases glucose from storage.

Norepinephrine (noradrenaline):
constricts vessels to raise blood pressure.

Both are sympathomimetic agents.
23
THE ADRENAL CORTEX
AND ADRENAL MEDULLA
24
PANCREAS


Located near and partially behind stomach
Exocrine and endocrine organ
25
PANCREAS


Located near and partially behind stomach
Exocrine and endocrine organ
26
PANCREAS FUNCTION
Endocrine function
 islets of Langerhans produce:
Insulin: promotes movement of
glucose into cells and promotes
storage as glycogen
 Glucagon: promotes movement of
glucose into the blood by breaking
down glycogen stored in liver cells

27
PANCREAS FUNCTION
28
PITUITARY GLAND

Pea-sized gland in depression of
skull (sella turcica) also called the
hypophysis
Anterior lobe (adenohypophysis)
 Posterior lobe (neurohypophysis)


Hypothalamus controls secretions
of the pituitary via releasing factors
(hormones)
29
PITUITARY GLAND
30
PITUITARY GLAND
31
RELATIONSHIP OF THE HYPOTHALAMUS TO THE
PITUITARY GLAND
32
PITUITARY FUNCTION

Anterior Pituitary
Growth hormone (GH) or somatotropin (STH)
 Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH; thyrotropin)
 Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
 Gonadotropic hormones (FSH, LH)
 Prolactin (PRL)

33
PITUITARY FUNCTION

Posterior pituitary: stores and releases
hormones synthesized in the
hypothalamus
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH; vasopressin)
 Oxytocin (OT)

34
PITUITARY GLAND: HORMONES AND
ACTIONS
35
OVARIES AND
TESTES: HORMONES AND ACTIONS
36
MALE
Testes

Hormone:
testosterone
Maintains germ
cell formation
and secondary
sexual
characteristics
FEMALE
Ovaries

Hormones: estrogen
and progesterone
Maintains menstrual
cycle, release of ovum,
secondary sexual
characteristics,
preparation of uterus
for pregnancy
37
QUICK QUIZ:
1. The outer section of each adrenal
gland is the ….
A. adrenal medulla
B. adrenal cortex
C. adrenaline
D. adrenocorticotropic hormone
38
QUICK QUIZ:
2. Secreted by the anterior lobe of the
pituitary gland; stimulates ovulation in
females and testosterone secretion in
males….
A. luteinizing hormone (LH)
B. estrodoil
C. oxytocin
D. prolactin
39
Combining Forms, Suffixes,
Prefixes, and Terminology
GLANDS
Combining Form
Meaning
aden/o
gland
 adren/o
adrenal glands
 adrenal/o
adrenal glands
 gonad/o
sex glands (ovaries, testes)
 pancreat/o
pancreas
 parathyroid/o parathyroid gland

40
Combining Forms, Suffixes,
Prefixes, and Terminology
GLANDS
Combining Form
pituitar/o
hypophysis
 thyr/o
 thyroid/o

Meaning
pituitary gland;
thyroid gland
thyroid gland
41
Combining Forms, Suffixes,
Prefixes, and Terminology
RELATED FORMS
Combining Form
andr/o
 calc/o, calici/o
 cortic/o
region
 crin/o
 dips/o
 estr/o
 gluc/o, glyc/o

Meaning
male
calcium
cortex, outer
secrete
thirst
female
sugar
42
Combining Forms, Suffixes,
Prefixes, and Terminology
GLANDS
Combining Form
home/o
 hormon/o
 kal/I
 lact/o
 myx/o
 natr/o

Meaning
sameness
hormone
potassium (an electrolyte)
milk
mucus
sodium (an electrolyte)
43
Combining Forms, Suffixes,
Prefixes, and Terminology
GLANDS
Combining Form
phys/o
 somat/o
 ster/o
 toc/o
 toxic/o
 ur/o

Meaning
growing
body
solid structure
childbirth
position
urine
44
Combining Forms, Suffixes,
Prefixes, and Terminology
SUFFIXES
Suffix
-agon
 -emia
 -in, -ine
 -tropin
 -uria

Meaning
assemble, gather together
blood condition
a substance
stimulating the function of
urine condition
45
Combining Forms, Suffixes,
Prefixes, and Terminology
PREFIXES
Prefix
eu hyper hypo oxy pan tetra tri

Meaning
good, normal
excessive, above
deficient, below
rapid, sharp, acid
all
four
three
46
QUICK QUIZ:
3. Which term means surgical excision
of the adrenal gland (specifically)?
A. adenectomy
B. adrenopathy
C. adrenalectomy
D. pancreatectomy
47
QUICK QUIZ:
4. Which term means a blood
condition of too little potassium?
A. hyperkalemia
B. hypocalcemia
C. hypercalciuria
D. hypokalemia
48
PATHOLOGY—THYROID GLAND
Goiter: Enlargement of the thyroid
Hypersecretion
Hyperthyroidism
 Graves’ disease

Exophthalmos and proptosis
Hyposecretion
Hypothyroidism
 Myxedema
 Cretinism
Neoplasms
Thyroid carcinoma
49
PATHOLOGY—PARATHYROID
Hypersecretion
Hyperparathyroidism



Loss of bone density
Kidney stones
Hypercalcemia
Hyposecretion
Hypoparathyroidism



Muscle and nerve weakness
Tetany
Hypocalcemia
50
PATHOLOGY—ADRENAL CORTEX
Hypersecretion

adrenal virilism
amenorrhea, hirsutism, acne, voice deepening

Cushing syndrome
Obesity, moonface, thoracic fat deposition
Hyposecretion

Addison disease
Deficient mineral-and gluco-corticoids,
hyponatremia, fatigue, weakness, weight loss, low
blood pressure
51
PATHOLOGY—ADRENAL MEDULLA
Hypersecretion
 Pheochromocytoma
Benign tumor of adrenal medulla
Excess epinephrine and norepinephrine
Hypertension, palpitations, severe headaches,
sweating, flushing of the face, and muscle
spasms
52
PATHOLOGY—PANCREAS
Hypersecretion

Hyperinsulinism
Hypoglycemia, convulsions, fainting
Hyposecretion

Diabetes mellitus
Lack of insulin secretion or resistance of insulin in
promoting sugar, starch, and fat metabolism in cells
Type 1 : childhood onset, typically
Type 2 : adult onset, typically
53
COMPARISON OF TYPE 1 AND
TYPE 2 DIABETES
54
PATHOLOGY
PITUITARY GLAND: (ANTERIOR LOBE)
Hypersecretion


acromegaly
gigantism
Hyposecretion


dwarfism
panhypopituitarism
55
PATHOLOGY
PITUITARY GLAND: (POSTERIOR LOBE)
Hypersecretion

Syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH)
Excess ADH
Excess water retention
Hyposecretion

Diabetes insipidus
Deficient ADH
Polyuria and polydipsia
56
REVIEW ABNORMAL CONDITIONS OF
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
57
LABORATORY TESTS

Fasting plasma glucose (FPG)


Serum and urine tests


Measures circulating glucose in a patient
who has fasted at least 8 hours
Measures hormones, electrolytes,
glucose, etc., in blood and urine as
indicators of endocrine function
Thyroid function tests

Measures T3, T4, and TSH in the
bloodstream
58
CLINICAL PROCEDURES
exophthalmometry
 computed tomography (CT) scan
 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the
head
 radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU)
 thyroid scan
 ultrasound examination

59
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
Meaning

aden/o
___________

adren/o
____________

adrenal/o
____________

andr/o
____________

calc/o, calici/o
____________

cortic/o
____________
60
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
Meaning

aden/o
gland

adren/o
adrenal glands

adrenal/o
adrenal glands

andr/o
male

calc/o, calici/o
calcium

cortic/o
cortex, outer region
61
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
Meaning

crin/o
____________

dips/o
____________

estr/o
____________

gluc/o, glyc/o
____________

gonad/o
____________

home/o
____________
62
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
crin/o
 dips/o
 estr/o
 gluc/o, glyc/o
 gonad/o


home/o
Meaning
secrete
third
female
sugar
sex glands (ovaries,
testes)
sameness
63
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
hormon/o
 kal/i
 insulin/o
 lact/o
 myx/o
 natr/o

Meaning
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
64
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
hormon/o
 kal/i
electrolyte)
 insulin/o
 lact/o
 myx/o
 natr/o

Meaning
hormone
potassium (an
insulin
milk
mucus
sodium (an electrolyte)
65
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
Meaning
pancreat/o
 parathyroid/o
 phys/o
 pituitar/o

or
somat/o
 ster/o

____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
66
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
pancreat/o
 parathyroid/o
 phys/o
 pituitar/o

somat/o
 ster/o

Meaning
pancreas
parathyroid gland
growing
pituitary gland;
or hypophysis
body
solid structure
67
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
thyr/o
 thyroid/o
 toc/o
 toxic/o
 ur/o

Meaning
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
68
REVIEW SHEET
COMBINING FORMS
Combining Form
thyr/o
 thyroid/o
 toc/o
 toxic/o
 ur/o

Meaning
thyroid gland
thyroid gland
childbirth
position
urine
69
REVIEW SHEET
SUFFIXES
Suffix
-agon
 -emia
 -in, -ine
 -tropin
 -uria

Meaning
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
70
REVIEW SHEET
SUFFIXES
Suffix
-agon
 -emia
 -in, -ine
 -tropin
 -uria

Meaning
assemble, gather together
blood condition
a substance
stimulating the function of
urine condition
71
REVIEW SHEET
PREFIXES
Prefix







euhyperhypooxypantetratri-
Meaning
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
72
REVIEW SHEET
PREFIXES
Prefix
eu hyper hypo oxy pan tetra tri
Meaning
good, normal
excessive, above
deficient, below
rapid, sharp, acid
all
four
three
73
QUICK QUIZ:
5. What is the pathologic condition in which
enlargement of the extremities is caused
by hypersecretion of the anterior pituitary
after puberty?
A. Addison disease
B. acromegaly
C. Cushing syndrome
D. Graves disease
74