Diagnosing Endocrine
Problems
PHYSIOLOGY OF DISEASE AND TREATMENTS
Addison’s Disease
 Cause

Cortex portion of adrenal
gland underactive
 Symptoms

Low blood sugar, low
blood Na+, loss of water,
tiredness, and yellowing of
the skin
 Use of cortisone
Myxedema
 Cause



Occurs in Adults
Thyroid gland is underactive
Decreases the production of
thyroxin
 Symptoms

Lowered metabolism,
changes in skin texture,
puffiness of the face, a
decrease in mental abilities
 Treatment

Use of thyroid extract
Myxedema
Acromegaly
 Cause

The pituitary gland over
secretes human growth
hormone in adults
 Symptoms

Bones thicken, especially
in the hands, the feet, and
the face
 Treatment

No available treatment
Cretinism
 Cause

Little to no thyroxin is
produced from birth
 Symptoms


In infants, face swells, lips
become large, and tongue
becomes thick
Physical and mental
growth is stunted
 Treatment

Use of thyroid extract
Dwarfism
 Cause

Pituitary gland under
secretes human growth
hormone
 Symptoms


Stunted growth
Relative size of body parts
is normal
 Treatments

Use of growth hormone
before skeletal growth is
completed
Hypoglycemia
 Causes

Pancreas produces too
much insulin
 Symptoms

Low blood sugar levels,
dizziness, intense hunger,
and weakness
 Treatment

Control of blood sugar by
diet
Hyperthyroidism
 Causes

Thyroid is overactive,
producing too much thyroxin
 Symptoms

High metabolic rate,
excitability, rapid speech,
anxiety, increased appetite,
and weight loss
 Treatment

Medication to stop
production of thyroxin;
surgery if thyroid is enlarged
Hypothyroidism
 Cause
 Thyroid is underactive, producing too little thyroxin
 Symptoms
 Low metabolic rate, dry skin, reduced alertness, and weight
gain
 Treatment
 Use of thyroid extract
Diabetes Mellitus
 Causes

Little or no insulin is
produced by the islets of
Langerhans in the pancreas
 Symptoms

Uncontrolled blood sugar
levels, excessive urination,
weakness, excessive appetite,
and weight loss
 Treatment



Careful planning of diet
Exercise
Regular injections of insulin
Diabetes insipidus
 Cause
 Posterior lobe of pituitary gland is underactive, producing too
little vasopressin
 Very uncommon
 Due to head injury or tumor
 Symptoms
 Excessive thirst and increased urination
 Kidney’s unable to conserve water
 Treatments
 Careful planning of diet
Complete the case studies on the back!
Bellwork
Matching: They may have more than one answer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
TSH
FSH
ADH
OT
GH
LH
Luteinizing hormone
Labor contractions, milk ejection
Stimulates body cell division
Thyroid stimulating hormone
Oxytocin
Antidiuretic Hormone
Ovulation, formation of corpus
luteum
h. Follicle stimulating hormone
i. Reabsorption of water, elevation of
blood pressure and volume
j. Estrogen secretion, sperm
maturation
k. Secretion of thyroid hormones
l. Promotes long bone growth
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
Outline for Endocrine Test
 Performance enhancing drugs
 EPO, testosterone, blood doping, GH, steroids,
 Effects as a performance enhancing drug
 Possible side effects of drugs
 Label organs/glands of endocrine system
 Hypothalamus, pineal, pituitary gland, parathyroid, thyroid,
thymus, pancreas, adrenal, ovaries, testes
 Hormones: actions/functions and site of production
 Aldoesterone, cortisol, epinephrine, GnRH, estrogen, insulin,
glucagon, PTH, melatonin, ADH, oxytocin, FSH, LH,
testosterone, thymosin, cacitonin, HCG