Med Term Chapter 13 Flashcards

Hormones and Their Functions

• Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH): Linked to estrogen secretion in females and sperm production in males.
• Glucagon (GCG): Hormone from pancreatic alpha cells that raises blood glucose by converting glycogen to glucose.
• Glucose: Essential energy source for the body, commonly referred to as blood sugar.
• Estrogen (E): Produced by ovaries, crucial for female secondary sex characteristics and menstrual cycle regulation.
• Epinephrine (Adrenaline): Activates sympathetic nervous system during stress, increases heart rate, and raises blood pressure.

Key Conditions and Disorders

• Cortisol (Hydrocortisone): A corticosteroid that regulates metabolism and has anti-inflammatory properties.
• Acromegaly: Disease marked by extreme enlargement of hands and feet due to excess growth hormone after puberty.
• Gigantism: Abnormal overall growth caused by excess growth hormone before puberty.
• Cretinism: Congenital hypothyroidism leading to significant physical and mental developmental delays if untreated.

Diabetes and Related Conditions

• Diabetes Insipidus (DI): Not related to diabetes mellitus; results from insufficient antidiuretic hormone (ADH) production or kidney response.
• Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes occurring during pregnancy, typically resolving after childbirth but increasing future type 2 diabetes risk.

Thyroid Disorders

• Hashimoto's Disease: An autoimmune disorder where antibodies damage the thyroid gland, often leading to hypothyroidism.
• Graves' Disease: Immune system disorder causing the thyroid to produce excessive hormones, leading to hyperthyroidism and possible goiter and exophthalmos.

Blood Conditions

• Hypercalcemia: Excessive blood calcium can weaken bones and lead to kidney issues.
• Exophthalmos: Eyeballs protrude abnormally from their sockets, often associated with thyroid disorders.
• Hyperglycemia: Abnormally high blood glucose levels, primarily in diabetes; symptoms include excessive thirst (polydipsia), hunger (polyphagia), and urination (polyuria).
• Hyperinsulinemia: Excessive insulin in the bloodstream, potentially causing hypoglycemia.

Diagnostic Tests

• Fructosamine Test: Reflects average glucose levels over the past three weeks; offers quicker assessment than HbA1c test.
• Human Growth Hormone (HGH): Synthetic hormone used to stimulate growth.