Random Endocrine questions

Question 1

Common symptoms of hyperthyroidism

Answer 1

Tremor
Diarrhoea
Weight loss and heat intolerance

Question 2

Symptoms of Cushing’s syndrome

Answer 2

Weight gain
Acne
Stretch marks
Easy bruising

Question 3

Common age group for acromegaly

Answer 3

30-50yrs

Question 4

Dipsogenic diabetes insipidus

Answer 4

Defect or damage to the hypothalamus causing malfunction of the thirst mechanism
Individual is excessively thirsty regardless of their fluid status and consumes large volumes of fluid which suppresses secretion of vasopressin and increases urine output

Question 5

Antibodies seen in Grave’s disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Answer 5

Thyroglobulin antibody

Thyroid peroxidase antibody

Question 6

Antibody specific to Grave’s disease

Answer 6

TSH receptor antibody

Question 7

Main function of aldosterone

Answer 7

Reabsorption of sodium and water as well as causing excretion of potassium to increase blood volume

Question 8

Symptoms of hypothyroidism

Answer 8

Weight gain
Dry skin
Hyporeflexia
Hair loss

Question 9

Cushing’s disease

Answer 9

Results from a benign pituitary adenoma secreting excess ACTH
High levels of ACTH in turn causes increased production of cortisol from the adrenal cortex

Question 10

Acromegaly signs

Answer 10

Oily skin
Visual defects e.g. bitemporal hemianopia
Prominent supraorbital ridge
Increased jaw prominence
Enlargement of tongue (macroglossia)
Enlargement of hands &; fingers
Enlargement of feet

Question 11

Sensitive measure of thyroid function

Answer 11

TSH shows if T4 and T3 is adequate for the patient

Useful for identifying hypothyroidism and ensuring an appropriate amount of thyroxine is administered

Question 12

What stimulates the release of FSH and LH?

Answer 12

GnRH

Question 13

What is produced by the adrenal cortex?

Answer 13

Cortisol, aldosterone and weak androgens such as 5-DHEA

Question 14

What is produced by the adrenal medulla?

Answer 14

Noradrenaline

Adrenaline

Question 15

What are Sertoli cells responsible for producing due to FSH stimulation?

Answer 15

Androgen binding globulin

Question 16

What hormone stimulates Leydig cells?

Answer 16

LH

Question 17

What is an Addisonian crisis?

Answer 17

Severe adrenal insufficiency resulting in dangerously low serum cortisol levels

Question 18

Causes of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus

Answer 18

Inability for the kidneys to respond appropriately the vasopressin (ADH) caused by:
Post-obstructive uropathy
Mutations in the vasopressin (ADH) receptor gene
Lithium
Amyloidosis

Question 19

Gold standard for diagnosing acromegaly

Answer 19

Oral glucose tolerance test + Growth hormone measurement

Serum IGF-1 can also be useful for acromegaly screening but not ideal for diagnosis

Question 20

Cushing’s syndrome

Answer 20

Excess cortisol

More common in women

Question 21

Hashimoto’s disease

Answer 21

A destructive autoimmune disease caused by auto-reactive antibodies against thyroglobulin

Question 22

Addison’s disease

Answer 22

A long-term endocrine disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough steroid hormones

Question 23

Diabetes Insipidus

Answer 23

Passage of large volumes of dilute urine

Question 24

Cause of Addison’s disease

Answer 24

Autoimmune destruction of adrenal cortex
Tuberculosis
Adrenoleukodystrophy (rare inherited disorder)

Question 25

Neurogenic diabetes insipidus

Answer 25

Mutations in the ADH receptor gene | Polycystic kidneys

Question 26

Most common cause of Cushing's syndrome

Answer 26

Long term use of glucocorticoid treatments (steroids) which are commonly used to suppress inflammation

Question 27

Acromegaly

Answer 27

Increased levels of growth hormone stimulate overproduction of IGF1 from the liver IGF1 stimulates overgrowth of tissues and alters blood glucose / lipid metabolism

Question 28

Symptoms of Addison's disease

Answer 28

Weight loss Fatigue Postural hypotension Hyperpigmentation

Question 29

Grave's disease

Answer 29

An autoimmune disease directed against thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) receptors. The autoantibodies stimulate the TSH receptors causing increased T3 and T4 production

Question 30

Hormones produced by the anterior pituitary gland

Answer 30

``` ACTH FSH LH TSH Growth hormone Prolactin ```

Question 31

Prevalence of acromegaly

Answer 31

Equally distributed between sexes

Question 32

Hormones produced by the posterior pituitary

Answer 32

Oxytocin | Vasopressin/ADH

Question 33

Symptoms of acromegaly

Answer 33

``` Headache Visual changes Paresthesia and weakness in the hands Increased finger ring size Deepening voice Excessive sweating ```

Question 34

Underlying problem in neurogenic diabetes insipidus

Answer 34

Underproduction of vasopressin by posterior pituitary

Question 35

Common cause of acromegaly

Answer 35

Pituitary adenoma due to overgrowth of somatotrophe cells | Rarely caused by ectopic production of growth hormone by carcinoid tumours

Question 36

Toxic thyroid adenoma

Answer 36

A benign tumour of the thyroid gland which produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormones Arise from follicular cells of the thyroid

Question 37

What is the most likely cause of cardiac arrest in a patient with ketoacidosis?

Answer 37

Hypokalaemia therefore need to monitor potassium levels and pt must be attaching to an ECG when administering insulin

Question 38

Symptoms of pelvic inflammatory disease

Answer 38

``` Lower abdominal pain (generally bilateral) Deep dyspareunia Dysuria Nausea Vomiting Purulent vaginal discharge ```

Question 39

Normal foetal heart rate

Answer 39

110-150bpm

Question 40

Progesterone and breast

Answer 40

Promotes breast development but inhibits lactation

Question 41

Endometriosis

Answer 41

A chronic oestrogen-dependent condition characterised by the growth of endometrial tissue in sites other than the uterine cavity, most commonly in the pelvic cavity Common symptoms include subfertility, dysmenorrhoea, pelvic pain (worse at the time of menstruation or just prior to it), and dyspareunia

Question 42

Hormone change in menopause

Answer 42

Rise in FSH

Question 43

Cervical ectropion

Answer 43

Columnar epithelial cells of the cervix are found at the vaginal part of the cervix Most common cause of post-coital bleeding

Question 44

What does compression of the pituitary stalk result in?

Answer 44

Hypersecretion of prolactin

Question 45

What structure lies posterior to the bifurcation of internal iliac artery into anterior and posterior divisions?

Answer 45

Greater sciatic foramen

Question 46

What condition is associated with syndactyly?

Answer 46

HOX genes

Question 47

What condition is associated with high TSH levels?

Answer 47

Primary hypothyroidism

Question 48

What occurs due to the malformation of a first pharyngeal cleft?

Answer 48

Failure of external auditory meatus

Question 49

Clinical features of hypocalcaemia

Answer 49

``` Spasms (e.g. Trousseau's Sign) Perioral paraesthesia Anxious, irritable, irrational Seizures Muscle tone increase in smooth muscle (wheeze, dysphagia, colic) Orientation impairment, confusion Dermatitis Impetigo herpetiformis Chvostek's Sign ```

Question 50

Other causes of hypocalcaemia

Answer 50

chronic kidney disease, pseudohypoparathyroidism, acute rhabdomyolysis, vitamin D deficiency, hypomagnesaemia, osteomalacia, acute pancreatitis, over-hydration, respiratory alkalosis

Question 51

Physiological actions of Thyroid hormones

Answer 51

Increase basal metabolic rate - increased carbohydrate metabolism, lipid degradation, protein synthesis, oxygen consumption by different organs, increase effects of insulin and catecholamines Normal CNS development - myelination of nerves Normal growth and development