Medical Terminology Flashcards: Endocrine System Terms, Hormones, Glands, Metabolism

Hyperthyroidism means excessive thyroid hormone production, from hyper meaning above normal, thyroid referring to the thyroid gland, and ism meaning condition. It causes increased metabolism, weight loss, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, tremor, and heat intolerance. Graves disease is the most common cause. Hypothyroidism means insufficient thyroid hormone production, from hypo meaning below normal. It causes decreased metabolism, weight gain, fatigue, cold intolerance, and constipation. Hashimoto thyroiditis is the most common cause.

Hyperglycemia means high blood sugar, from hyper meaning excessive, glyc meaning sugar, and emia meaning blood condition. Normal fasting blood glucose is 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter. Hyperglycemia is defined as fasting glucose above 126 or random glucose above 200. The primary cause is diabetes mellitus, where either the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, as in type 1, or the body's cells resist insulin's effects, as in type 2. Other causes include stress, infection, corticosteroid medications, and Cushing syndrome.

An adenoma is a benign tumor arising from glandular tissue, from aden meaning gland and oma meaning tumor. Common examples include pituitary adenomas, thyroid adenomas, and colon polyps classified as adenomas. An adenocarcinoma is a malignant cancerous tumor arising from glandular tissue, from aden meaning gland, carcin meaning cancer, and oma meaning tumor. Adenocarcinomas are the most common type of cancer in the lung, colon, pancreas, and prostate. The key distinction is that adenoma is benign and does not spread, while adenocarcinoma is malignant and can metastasize to other organs.

Polydipsia means excessive thirst, from poly meaning many or excessive and dipsia meaning thirst. It is a classic symptom of diabetes mellitus where high blood sugar causes osmotic diuresis, meaning the kidneys excrete large volumes of urine pulling water with the glucose, leading to dehydration and compensatory thirst. The three classic signs of diabetes are polydipsia, polyuria meaning excessive urination, and polyphagia meaning excessive hunger.

Adrenalectomy means surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands, from adrenal meaning the adrenal gland located on top of each kidney, and ectomy meaning surgical removal. It is performed to treat adrenal tumors including pheochromocytoma, which is a catecholamine-producing tumor causing dangerous blood pressure spikes, Cushing syndrome caused by cortisol-producing tumors, aldosteronoma causing excessive aldosterone production, and adrenal cancer. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy is the preferred approach for smaller tumors.

Parathyroidectomy means surgical removal of one or more parathyroid glands, from para meaning beside, thyroid referring to the thyroid gland near which the parathyroids are located, and ectomy meaning surgical removal. The four parathyroid glands regulate calcium levels by producing parathyroid hormone. Parathyroidectomy is performed for hyperparathyroidism, a condition where one or more glands produce excessive parathyroid hormone, causing elevated blood calcium levels that can lead to kidney stones, osteoporosis, abdominal pain, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. ---