Medical Terminology Simplified

9–26 The CF acr/omeans extremity. Acr/o/megaly, a chronic metabolic condi-

tion, is characterized by a gradual, marked enlargement and thickening of the bones

of the face and jaw. This condition, which afflicts middle-aged and older persons, is

caused by overproduction of growth hormone and is treated by radiation, pharmaco-

logical agents, or surgery, commonly involving partial resection of the pituitary gland.

A term that literally means enlargement of the extremitiesis

__________ / _____ / ____________________.

Boldfaceindicates a word root or combining form. Blueindicates a suffix. Pinkindicates a prefix.

404 CHAPTER 9• Endocrine and Nervous Systems

acr/o/megaly

ăk-rō-MĔG-ă-lē

TABLE 9-1PITUITARY HORMONES

This table identifies pituitary hormones, their target organs and functions, and associated disorders.

Hormone Target Organ and Functions Disorders

Anterior Pituitary Hormones (Adenohypophysis)

Adrenocorticotropic

hormone (ACTH)

Follicle-stimulating

hormone (FSH)

Growth hormone (GH),

or somatotropin

Luteinizing hormone (LH)

Prolactin

Thyroid-stimulating

hormone (TSH)

Posterior Pituitary Hormones (Neurohypophysis)

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

Oxytocin

• Adrenal cortex—promotes secre-
  tions of some hormones by adrenal
  cortex, especially cortisol


• Ovaries in females—stimulates egg
  production; increases secretion of
  estrogen


• Testes in males—stimulates sperm
  production


• Bone, cartilage, liver, muscle, and
  other tissues—stimulates somatic
  growth; increases use of fats for
  energy


• Ovaries in females—promotes
  ovulation; stimulates production of
  estrogen and progesterone


• Testes in males—promotes secretion
  of testosterone


• Breast—promotes lactation in
  conjunction with other hormones


• Thyroid gland—stimulates secretion
  of thyroid hormone


• Kidney—increases water reabsorption
  (water returns to the blood)


• Uterus—stimulates uterine
  contractions; initiates labor


• Breast—promotes milk secretion
  from the mammary glands
  
  
  • Hyposecretion is rare.
  
  
  • Hypersecretion causes Cushing disease.
  
  
  • Hyposecretion causes failure of sexual
    maturation.
  
  
  • Hypersecretion has no known significant
    effects.
  
  
  • Hyposecretion in children causes
    pituitary dwarfism.
  
  
  • Hypersecretion in children causes
    gigantism; hypersecretion in adults
    causes acromegaly.
  
  
  • Hyposecretion causes failure of sexual
    maturation.
  
  
  • Hypersecretion has no known significant
    effects.
  
  
  • Hyposecretion in nursing mothers
    causes poor lactation.
  
  
  • Hypersecretion in nursing mothers
    causes galactorrhea.
  
  
  • Hyposecretion in infants causes cretinism;
    hyposecretion in adults causes myxedema.
  
  
  • Hypersecretion causes Graves disease, in-
    dicated by exophthalmos. (See Fig. 9–4.)
  
  
  • Hyposecretion causes diabetes insipidus.
  
  
  • Hypersecretion causes syndrome of
    inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
    (SIADH).
  
  
  • Unknown