(^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 isKey Terms
Acromegaly
Aldosterone
Antidiuretic hormone
(ADH)
Catecholamines
Chvostek’s sign
Conn’s syndrome
Cortisol
Cortisone
EpinephrineGigantism
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)