| 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. |