1. Characteristics and Treatment of Common Endocrine Disorders
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM
Characteristics and Treatment of
Common Endocrine Disorders

2. SEE TABLE 11-4 pg. 235

3. GIGANTISM and DWARFISM
Hyperfunction of pituitary – too much growth hormone
In preadolescence – overgrowth of long bones leads to excessive tallness
Dwarfism
Hypofunction of pituitary in childhood
Small size, but body proportions and intellect normal
Rx – early diagnosis, injection of growth hormone
Read “Did You Know” pg. 227

4. HYPERTHRYROIDISM Overactive thyroid gland
Too much thyroxine leads to enlargement of gland
Symptoms – consuming large quantities of food but lose weight
Goiter – enlargement of gland
Exophthalmos – bulging of eyeballs
Rx – partial or total removal of gland, drugs to reduce thyroxine, radiation

5. HYPOTHYROIDISM Not enough thyroxine
May be due to lack of iodine (simple goiter)
Symptoms – dry, itchy skin; dry and brittle hair, constipation, muscle cramps at night

6. TETANY Hypoparathyroidism Symptoms Rx
Decreased calcium levels affect functions of nerves
Symptoms
Convulsive twitching develops, person dies of spasms in the respiratory muscles Rx
Vitamin D, calcium and parathormone

7. DIABETES MELLITUS Cause – decreased secretion of insulin
Symptoms – polyuria, polyphagia, polydipsia, weight loss, blurred vision, and possible diabetic coma
If not treated, excess glucose in blood (hyperglycemia) and secreted in urine (glycosuria)
If too much insulin given, blood sugar can get too low (hypoglycemia) and person can develop insulin shock
Type II diabetes is not insulin-dependent – most common, usually familial, occurs later in life, usually treated with diet
Test for diabetes – blood sample at home, normal blood sugar is mg

8. DIABETES
See Table 11-3 pg. 232
“Medical Highlights” pg. 233