Chapter 13 The Endocrine System Medical Terms

Question 1

enlargement of the extremities caused by excessive secretion of growth hormone after puberty

Answer 1

acromegaly

Question 2

a condition that occurs when the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol or aldosterone

Answer 2

Addison’s disease

Question 3

inflammation of the adrenal glands

Answer 3

adrenalitis

Question 4

an abnormality of electrolyte balance caused by excessive secretion of aldosterone

Answer 4

aldosteronism

Question 5

a medication administered to slow the ability of the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones

Answer 5

antithyroid drug

Question 6

a disorder of the adrenal glands caused by the excessive production of aldosterone

Answer 6

Conn’s syndrome

Question 7

the synthetic equivalent of natural corticosteroids that are administered to suppress inflammation and to act as an immunosuppressant

Answer 7

cortisone (hydrocortisone)

Question 8

a congenital form of hypothyroidism

Answer 8

cretinism

Question 9

a condition caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of cortisol

Answer 9

Cushing’s syndrome (hypercortisolism)

Question 10

a condition caused by insufficient production of the antidiuretic hormone or the inability of the kidneys to respond to this hormone

Answer 10

diabetes insipidus

Question 11

a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both

Answer 11

diabetes mellitus

Question 12

a diabetic emergency caused by very high blood sugar

Answer 12

diabetic coma

Question 13

damage to the retina as a complication of uncontrolled diabetes

Answer 13

diabetic retinopathy

Question 14

an abnormal protrusion of the eyeball out of the orbit

Answer 14

exophthalmos

Question 15

a blood test to measure the glucose levels after the patient has not eaten for 8 to 12 hours

Answer 15

fasting blood sugar (fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test)

Question 16

a blood test that measures average glucose levels over the past three weeks

Answer 16

fructosamine test

Question 17

the production of breast milk in women who are not breast feeding

Answer 17

galactorrhea

Question 18

the form of diabetes that occurs during some pregnancies

Answer 18

gestational diabetes mellitus

Question 19

abnormal growth of the entire body caused by excessive secretion of the growth hormone before puberty

Answer 19

gigantism

Question 20

an abnormal, nonmalignant enlargement of the thyroid gland

Answer 20

goiter (thyromegaly)

Question 21

an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system stimulates the thyroid to make excessive amounts of thyroid hormone

Answer 21

Grave’s disease

Question 22

an autoimmune disorder in which the body’s own antibodies attack and destroy the cells of the thyroid gland

Answer 22

Hashimoto’s disease (chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis)

Question 23

a blood test that measures the average blood glucose level over the previous three to four months

Answer 23

hemoglobin A1c testing (HbA1c)

Question 24

test performed by the patient using a drop of blood to measure the current blood sugar level

Answer 24

home blood glucose monitoring

Question 25

a synthetic version of the growth hormone that is administered to stimulate growth when the natural supply of growth hormone is insufficient for normal development

Answer 25

human growth hormone

Question 26

abnormally high concentrations of calcium in the blood

Answer 26

hypercalcemia

Question 27

an abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood

Answer 27

hyperglycemia

Question 28

the excessive secretion of hormones by the sex glands

Answer 28

hypergonadism

Question 29

a condition marked by excessive secretion of insulin

Answer 29

hyperinsulinism

Question 30

the overproduction of the parathyroid hormone that causes hypercalcemia

Answer 30

hyperparathyroidism

Question 31

the excess secretion of growth hormone that causes acromegaly and gigantism

Answer 31

hyperpituitarism

Question 32

the overproduction of thyroid hormones

Answer 32

hyperthyroidism (thyrotoxicosis)

Question 33

a condition characterized by abnormally low levels of calcium in the blood

Answer 33

hypocalcemia

Question 34

an abnormally low concentration of glucose in the blood

Answer 34

hypoglycemia

Question 35

a condition caused by an insufficient or absent secretion of parathyroid hormone

Answer 35

hypoparathyroidism

Question 36

the removal of abnormal tissue from the pituitary gland

Answer 36

hypophysectomy

Question 37

a deficiency of thyroid secretion

Answer 37

hypothyroidism (underactive thyroidism)

Question 38

a diabetic emergency caused by very low blood sugar

Answer 38

insulin shock

Question 39

a benign tumor of the pancreas that causes hypoglycemia by secreting additional insulin

Answer 39

insulinoma

Question 40

a minimally invasive procedure to surgically remove one or both adrenal glands

Answer 40

laparoscopic adrenalectomy

Question 41

a condition in which type 1 diabetes develops in adults

Answer 41

latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (type 1.5 diabetes)

Question 42

the surgical removal of a lobe of an organ

Answer 42

lobectomy

Question 43

a severe form of adult hypothyroidism caused by extreme deficiency of thyroid secretion

Answer 43

myxedema (adult hypothyroidism)

Question 44

a test performed to confirm a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and to aid in diagnosing hypoglycemia

Answer 44

oral glucose tolerance test

Question 45

surgical removal of all or part of the pancreas

Answer 45

pancreatectomy

Question 46

inflammation of the pancreas

Answer 46

pancreatitis

Question 47

surgical removal of one or more of the parathyroid glands

Answer 47

parathyroidectomy

Question 48

a disorder of the peripheral nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord, producing pain, loss or sensation, and inability to control muscles

Answer 48

peripheral neuropathy

Question 49

a benign tumor of the adrenal gland that causes the release of excess epinephrine and norepinephrine

Answer 49

pheochromocytoma

Question 50

the surgical removal of the pineal gland

Answer 50

pinealectomy

Question 51

a tumor of the pineal gland

Answer 51

pinealoma

Question 52

a slow-growing benign tumor of the pituitary gland that may or or many not cause excess hormone secretion

Answer 52

pituitary adenoma (pituitary tumor)

Question 53

excessive thirst

Answer 53

polydipsia

Question 54

excessive hunger

Answer 54

polyphagia

Question 55

excessive urination

Answer 55

polyuria

Question 56

a condition in which the blood sugar level is higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes

Answer 56

prediabetes

Question 57

a benign tumor of the pituitary gland that causes it to produce too much prolactin

Answer 57

prolactinoma

Question 58

oral administration of radioactive iodine to destroy thyroid cells

Answer 58

radioactive iodine treatment

Question 59

test using radioactive iodine administered orally to measure thyroid function

Answer 59

radioactive iodine uptake test (RAIU)

Question 60

condition resulting from the failure of the bones of the limbs to grow to an appropriate length compared to the size of the head and trunk

Answer 60

short stature (dwarfism)

Question 61

overproduction of the antidiuretic hormone ADH, leading to bloating, water retention, and electrolyte imbalance

Answer 61

syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone

Question 62

medications administered to replace lost thyroid function

Answer 62

synthetic thyroid hormones

Question 63

the surgical removal of the thymus gland

Answer 63

thymectomy

Question 64

inflammation of the thymus gland

Answer 64

thymitis

Question 65

cancer of the thyroid gland

Answer 65

thyroid carcinoma

Question 66

a specialized nuclear scan to evaluate thyroid function

Answer 66

thyroid scan

Question 67

a relatively rare, life-threatening condition caused by exaggerated hyperthyroidism

Answer 67

thyroid storm (thyrotoxic crisis)

Question 68

a diagnostic test to measure the circulating blood level of thyroid-stimulating hormone

Answer 68

thyroid-stimulating hormone assay

Question 69

an autoimmune insulin deficiency disorder caused by the destruction of pancreatic islet beta cells

Answer 69

type 1 diabetes

Question 70

an insulin resistance disorder in which, although insulin is being produced, the body does not use it effectively

Answer 70

type 2 diabetes