Term | Definition |
AC | adrenal cortex |
acr/o | extremities, top |
acromegaly | A hormonal disorder that results when the pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone. |
ACTH | adrenocorticotropic hormone |
Addison disease | A rare disorder in which the adrenal glands do not produce enough of the hormones cortisol and/or aldosterone. |
aden/o | gland |
ADH | antidiuretic hormone |
adren/o | adrenal glands |
adrenalectomy | Surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands. |
adrenalitis | Inflammation of the adrenal glands, |
albuminuria | The presence of albumin in the urine, an indicator of kidney diseases. |
aldosterone | A hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex that acts on the kidneys to regulate electrolyte and water balance. |
aldosteronism | A disease that causes the adrenals to produce too much of the hormone aldosterone. |
allopurinol | A xanthine oxidase inhibitor that decreases uric acid production. Used to treat gout and kidney stones. |
antidiabetic | Drugs that help control diabetes mellitus. |
antidiuretic hormone | A hormone produced by the hypothalamus and stored in the pituitary gland. This hormone controls the amount of water excreted in the urine. |
AODM | adult-onset diabetes mellitus |
bacteriuria | The presence of bacteria in the urine. Bacteriuria can be symptomatic or asymptomatic. |
blood glucose | The concentration of glucose in the blood. Also called blood sugar. Measured regularly in diabetes patients. |
blood sugar | The concentration of glucose in the blood. Measured regularly in diabetes patients. |
calcitonin | A hormone secreted by the thyroid gland. It helps regulate calcium levels. |
Conn syndrome | Associated with increased secretion of the hormone aldosterone by the adrenal glands. |
cortic/o | cortex, outer section |
cortisol | The primary stress hormone. |
cretinism | A congenital condition caused by a deficiency of thyroid hormone. |
crin/o | secrete |
-crine | to secrete |
Cushing syndrome | A condition when abnormally high levels of a hormone called cortisol are present. |
DI | diabetes insipidus |
diabetes insipidus | A hormonal condition that causes the individual to have excessive and frequent urination. Inadequate ADH secretion. |
diabetes mellitus | A grouping of diseases that affect how the body uses glucose. Type I is lack of insulin, Type II is insulin resistance. |
diabetic retinopathy | The most common diabetic eye disease. It occurs when blood vessels in the retina are damaged. Leading cause of blindness in working age adults. |
-dipsia | thirst |
DKA | diabetic ketoacidosis |
DM | diabetes mellitus |
electrolytes | Minerals in the blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. |
endocrine system | The system of glands that release their secretions (hormones) directly into the circulatory system. |
endocrinology | A subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with the metabolism, physiology, and disorders of the endocrine system. |
epinephrine | A hormone secreted by the medulla of the adrenal glands. Commonly called adrenaline. |
estrogen | Hormones that are important for sexual and reproductive development in females. |
exophthalmos | A bulging eyeball, associated with hyperthyroidism. |
FBS | fasting blood sugar |
follicle-stimulating hormone | A hormone released by the pituitary gland. It regulates the development, maturation and reproductive processes of the body. |
FSH | follicle-stimulating hormone |
GH | growth hormone |
gigantism | Abnormal growth due to an excess of growth hormone during childhood. |
glucagon | A peptide hormone produced in the pancreas that opposes insulin. |
gluco- | relating to glucose |
glucose | Sugar in the blood that supplies energy to cells. |
glyc/o | glucose, sugar |
GnRH | gonadotropin-releasing hormone |
goiter | Enlargement of the thyroid gland causing a swelling in the front part of the neck. |
Graves disease | An immune disease that causes hyperthyroidism. |
GTT | glucose tolerance test |
gynecomastia | Non-cancerous swelling of the breast tissue in males due to an imbalance of hormones. Common in pre-adolescence, benign and self-limiting. |
HCG | human chorionic gonadotropin |
HGF | human growth factor |
hypercalcemia | Too much calcium in the blood. |
hyperglycemia | High blood sugar. A serious problem for diabetics. |
hyperinsulinism | Abnormally high levels of insulin in the blood. |
hyperpituitarism | Excessive hormone production by the pituitary gland. |
hyperthyroidism | Excessive hormone production by the thyroid. |
hyperthyroxinemia | Abnormally elevated thyroxine level in the blood. |
hypoglycemia | Abnormally low blood glucose (blood sugar) levels, usually less than 70 mg/dl. |
ICSH | interstitial cell-stimulating hormone |
IGT | impaired glucose tolerance |
insulin | A hormone produced in the pancreas. Regulates glucose levels. |
insulinoma | A neoplasm of the pancreas that is one of the chief causes of hypoglycemia. |
JOD | juvenile onset diabetes |
laparoscopy | Surgery using a thin light tube inserted into a small incision. |
leptin | A hormone that regulates energy balance by helping control appetite. |
LH | luteinizing hormone |
luteinizing hormone | A hormone released by the pituitary gland. It stimulates the secretion of sex hormones by the ovary and the testes and is involved in the maturation of spermatozoa and ova. |
melatonin | A hormone produced by the pineal gland. It plays a role in the regulation of sleep, mood, and reproduction. |
MSH | melanocyte stimulating hormone |
myx/o | mucus |
NIDDM | noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus |
norepinephrine | A neurotransmitter that is secreted in response to stress, increasing blood pressure and glucose. |
OXT | oxytocin |
oxytocin | A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland. It simulates contraction during labor and the production of milk. |
pancreat/o | pancreas |
pancreatitis | Inflammation in the pancreas. |
parathyroidectomy | Surgical removal of one or more parathyroid glands. |
pituitar/o | pituitary |
pituitary adenoma | Benign epithelia neoplasm of the pituitary. |
pituitary gland | A small, oval, unpaired, endocrine gland connected to the hypothalamus by a short stalk which is called the infundibulum. Its secretions control the other endocrine glands and influence growth, metabolism, and maturation. |
polydipsia | Excessive thirst. |
polyphagia | Excessive hunger or appetite. |
prediabetes | A condition in which blood glucose levels are higher than normal. Considered a warning sign for diabetes. |
PRL | prolactin |
progesterone | A sex hormone produced by the ovaries. |
prolactinoma | A begin tumor of the pituitary gland overproduces a hormone called prolactin. |
PTH | parathyroid hormone |
puberty | Becoming first capable of reproducing sexually. |
SIADH | syndrome of inappropriate diuretic hormone |
somatotrophs | Anterior pituitary cells which produce growth hormone. |
steroids | A hormone produced by the body. Also a drug used for treating swelling or to (illegally) improve athletic performance. |
T3 | triiodothyronine |
T4 | thyroxine |
testosterone | A hormone produced by the testicles. Responsible for maintaining muscle mass, bone density and sex drive. |
thalam/o | thalamus |
thym/o | thymus gland |
thymosin | A hormone secreted by the thymus. |
thyr/o | thyroid gland |
thyroid | A highly vascularized endocrine gland that regulates metabolism. It consists of two lobes joined by a thin band of tissue with one lobe on each side of the trachea. |
thyroidectomy | Surgical removal of the thyroid gland. |
thyroiditis | Inflammation of the thyroid gland. |
thyroxine | A hormone of the thyroid gland that stimulates the consumption of oxygen. |
TSH | thyroid-stimulating hormone |
vipoma | An endocrine tumor that secretes vasoactive intestinal peptide, that causes vasodilation, relaxation of smooth muscles, watery diarrhea, hypokalemia and hypochlorhydria. |