Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

(Sean Pound) #1

(^332) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified


How the Endocrine System Works


The endocrine system is comprised of several glands, scattered throughout the
body. The glands release hormones which are chemical messengers, substances which
control and regulate the activity of target cells and organs. Together, these hormones
influence growth, development, digestion, and regulate metabolism and reproduc-
tion. The glands generally release the hormones into the blood due to a stimulus,
another hormone, or a threshhold. The signal to turn off the hormone production is

Key Terms


Acromegaly
Aldosterone
Antidiuretic hormone
(ADH)
Catecholamines
Chvostek’s sign
Conn’s syndrome
Cortisol
Cortisone
Epinephrine

Gigantism
Glucocorticoids
Graves disease
Hydrocortisone
Insulin
Mineralocorticoids
Myxedema
Norepinephrine
Parathyroid hormone
(PTH)

RAIU

T3

T4

Thyroid scan update test
Thyroid storm
TRH
Trousseau’s sign
TSH
Vanillylmadelic acid
(VMA)

Hypothyroidism (Myxedema)
Hyperthyroidism(Graves’ disease)
Simple goiter
Hypopituitarism
Hyperpituitarism (Acromegaly
and Gigantism)
Hyperprolactinemia
Diabetes insipidus
Syndrome of inappropriate
antidiuretic hormone secretion
(SIADH)

Addison’s disease
Cushing’s syndrome
Primary aldosteronism
(Conn’s syndrome)
Pheochromocytoma
Hypoparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism
Diabetes mellitus
Metabolic syndrome
(Syndrome X/Dysmetabolic
syndrome)

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Learning Objectives

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