Deck 20: The Endocrine System

Question 1

Indicate whether a statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
Cushing disease is caused by an ACTH-secreting tumor of the pituitary gland._____

Answer 1

Adrenal hyper function producing excessive steroid hormones causes Cushing disease. Cushing syndrome is caused by adrenal cortical hyper function causing disturbances in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism, hyperglycemia, skeletal muscle weakness etc. Tumor in pituitary gland secreting ACTH predisposes Cushing syndrome.
The given statement is false.

Question 2

Mary Martin is a 37-year-old woman who has recently started to gain weight and is about 30 pounds heavier than she was 6 months ago. She doesn't think that she has been overeating and wonders if her endocrine glands are responsible. What would you tell her, and what should she do?

Answer 2

Hypothyroidism is a condition resulted due to secretion of low levels of thyroid hormone. Hypothyroidism exhibits the manifestations like slow body metabolic processes, high levels of TSH to stimulate thyroid gland to produce more thyroid hormone but is unsuccessful. The individuals become sluggish, gain weight (moderately to over weight) and menstrual irregularities. The condition can be resultant of auto immune disease called chronic thyroiditis or Hashimoto thyroiditis. Mary Martin gained weight due to dysfunction of thyroid gland resulted by chronic thyroiditis.

Question 3

What factors regulate the rate of production of thyroid hormone? What are the major effects of an abnormal output of thyroid hormone?

Answer 3

The thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is produced by anterior pituitary lobe and controls the release of the hormones from thyroid gland. The hypothalamus regulates the TSH secretions partially by producing thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). The thyroid hormones circulating in the blood inhibit the release of both the TRH and TSH. The increase in the thyroid hormones in the blood decreases the secretion of TRH and TSH.
The follicular cells of thyroid gland produce two hormones called thyroxine (tetraiodothyronine-T 4 ) and triidothyronine (T 3 ). The thyroxine contains 4 iodine atoms whereas the triiodothyronine contains 3 iodine atoms. Both these hormones have similar actions but the triiodothyronine is five times more potent.
The hormones are involved in the regulation of metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins. They increase the rate of energy released from the carbohydrates, increase the rate of protein synthesis and stimulate the oxidation of lipids. The thyroid hormones are required for the growth and development and are much necessary for maturation of nervous system.
The excess secretion of thyroid hormone leads to a condition called hyperthyroidism. The excess thyroid hormone exhibits pronounced effects on cardiovascular and neuromuscular systems. The heart rate is accelerated and hyperactive refluxes are observed. The muscles are observed with frequent and fine tremors. The excess hormone affects emotional and intellectual functions. Therefore, hyperthyroid individuals are hyperactive, emotionally labile and are quite irritable. They face difficulty in concentration because of excessively accelerated mental processes. The metabolic effects observed are increased metabolic activity with hot and flushed skin and rapid weight loss.

Question 4

Indicate whether a statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
A catecholamine-producing tumor of the adrenal medulla is a common cause of hypertension._____

Question 5

Why does the thyroid gland become enlarged as a result of iodine deficiency?

Question 6

Indicate whether a statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
Untreated neonatal hypothyroidism leads to impaired growth and mental development._____

Question 7

What is the difference between thyrotoxicosis and thyroiditis?

Question 8

Indicate whether a statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
A functional parathyroid tumor leads to increased blood calcium._____

Question 9

What are the main classes of hormones elaborated by the adrenal cortex? What diseases result from adrenal cortical dysfunction?

Question 10

Indicate whether a statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
Most persons with diabetes fail to secrete enough insulin to maintain a normal blood glucose._____

Question 11

Mary Jones has just delivered a baby girl and a sample of the baby's blood (umbilical cord blood) was sent to the laboratory to have thyroid function tests performed. She asks you why this was done, and what it means if the results are not normal. What would you tell her?

Question 12

What factors regulate the output of parathyroid hormone? What are the possible effects of parathyroid dysfunction?

Question 13

Match the abnormalities in the right column with the diseases in the left column.

Question 14

Indicate whether a statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
An excess of growth hormone usually leads to calcium loss and loss of bone density._____

Question 15

What are the major hormones produced by the pituitary gland? What factors regulate secretion of pituitary hormones?

Question 16

What are the clinical effects of hyperprolactinemia? What are the causes of hyperprolactinemia?

Question 17

Indicate whether a statement is true or false by writing T or F at the end of the statement.
A person with Hashimoto disease has a higher than normal level of thyroid hormones._____

Question 18

What is Addison disease? What is the cause of the skin pigmentation?

Question 19

George Harrison, a 52-year-old man, hasn't been feeling well lately, and he says that his skin is darkening, like a suntan, although it is winter and he doesn't go outside very often. He doesn't understand why this is happening. What should he do, and what would you tell him?

Question 20

What is the effect of overproduction of growth hormone?