Medical Dictionary - Endocrine

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.

If you want to memorize medical terms, our flash cards are worth a try. Your study efficiency is greatly improved with our smart flash card system. We use a spaced repetition algorithm that presents flash cards based upon your progress over time. This means that your learn more and retain it longer.