Medical Terminology (chpt.15)

anorexia

Lack of appetite. Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder

exophthalmia

Protrusion of eyeballs from their orbits

glucosuria

Presence of glucose in the urine. May indicate diabetes mellitus. Also called GLYCOSURIA

goiter

Enlargement of the thyroid gland, not due to a tumor

hirsutism

Abnormal hairiness, especially in women. Also called HYPERTRICHOSIS

hypocalcemia

Condition of deficient calcium (Ca) in the blood. The opposite would be HYPERCALCEMIA excessive calcium in the blood

hypoglycemia

Condition of deficient sugar in the blood. The opposite would be HYPERGLYCEMIA excessive sugar in the blood

hypokalemia

Condition of deficient potassium (K) in the blood. The opposite would be HYPERKALEMIA excessive potassium in the blood

hyponatremia

Condition of deficient sodium (Na) in the blood. The opposite would be HYPERNATREMIA excessive sodium in the blood

ketoacidosis

Excessive number of ketone acids in the bloodstream

ketonuria

Presence of ketones in urine

paresthesia

Abnormal sensation, such as prickling

polydipsia

Condition of excessive thirst

polyphagia

Condition of excessive appetite

polyuria

Condition of excessive urination

tetany

Continuous muscle spasms

acromegaly

Hypersecretion of somatotrophin from the adenohypophysis during adulthood; leads to an enlargement of the extremities (hands and feets), jaw, nose, and forehead. Usually caused by an adenoma of the pituitary gland

diabetes insipidus (DI)

Deficiency of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which causes the patient to excrete large quantities of urine (POLYURIA) and exhibit excessive thirst (POLYDIPSIA)

gigantism

Hypersecretion of somatotropin from adenohypophysis during childhood, leading to excessive growth

growth hormone deficiency (GHD)

Somatotropin deficiency due to dysfunction of adenohypophysis during childhood results in dwarfism. If during adulthood, patients may develope obesity and may experience weakness and cardiac difficulties

panhypopituitarism

Deficiency or lack of pituitary hormones causing hypotension, weight loss, weakness, and loss of libido; also called SIMMONDS DISEASE

syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH)

Oversecretion of ADH from the neurohypophysis leaading to severe hyponatremia and the inability to excrete diluted urine

hyperthyroidism

Excessive thyroid hormone production; also called THYROTOXICOSIS, the most common form of which is GRAVE DISEASE, which may be accompanied by exophthalmia

hypothyroidism

Deficient thyroid hormone production. If it occurs during childhood, it causes a condition called CRETINISM, which result in stunted mental and physical growth. The extreme adult form is called MYXEDEMA, which is characterized by facial and orbital edema

hyperparathyroidism

Overproduction of parathyroid hormones; symptoms include polyuria, hypercalcemia, hypertension, and kidney stones

hypoparathyroidism

Deficient parathyroid hormones production result in tetany, hypocalcemia, irritability, and muscle cramps

addison disease

Insufficient secretion of adrenal cortisol from the adrenal cortex is manifested by gastric complaints, hypotension, fatigue, and hyperpigmentation of skin and mucous membranes

cushing disease

Excessive secretion of cortisol by the adrenal cortex causes symptoms of obesity, leukocytosis, hirsutism, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia, and muscle wasting

diabetes mellitus (DM)

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high glucose levels that result from inadequate amounts of insulin, resistance to insulin, or a combination of both

gestational diabetes

Insulin resistance acquired during pregnancy. Usually resolves after birth, although some women develop type 2 diabetes later in life

hyperinsulinism

Oversecretion of insulin; seen in some newborns of diabetic mothers. Causes severe hypoglycemia

prediabetes

Acondition in which an individual's blood glucose level is higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes

type 1 diabetes

Total lack of insulin production resulting in glycosuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, blurred vision, fatigue, and frequent infections. Thought to be a autoimmune disorder. Previously called INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS (IDDM)

type 2 diabetes

Deficient insulin production, with symptoms similar to type 1 diabetes. Cause unknown but associated with obesity and family history; previously called NON-INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETES MELLITUS (NIDDM)

pheochromocytoma

Usually benign tumor of the adrenal medulla

prolactinoma

Most common type of pituitary tunor. Causes the pituitary to oversecrete prolactin

thymoma

Noncancerous tumor of epithelial origin that is often associated with myasthenia gravis

islet cell carcinoma

Pancreatic cancer; fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Treated with a Whipple procedure (pancreatoduodenectomy)

malignant thymoma

Rare cancer of the thymus gland

thyroid carcinoma

The most common type of throid carcinoma are follicular and papillary. Both have high 5-year survival rates

A1c

Measure of average bood glucose during a 3-month time span. Used to monitor response to diabetes treatment. Also called GLYCOSYLATED HEMOGLOBIN or HbA1c

fatsing plasma glucose (FPG)

After a period of fasting, blood is drawn. The amount of glucose present is used to measure the body's ability to break down and use glucose. 100-125 mg/dL = prediabetes; >126 = diabetes. Previously called FASTING BLOOD SUGAR (FBS)

glucometer

An instrument for measurement of blood sugar

hormone test

Measure the amount of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), cortisol, growth hormone, or parathyroid hormone in the blood

oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)

Blood test to measure the body's response to a concentrated glucose solution. May be used to diagnose diabetes mellitus or gestational diabetes

radioimmunoassay studies (RIA)

Nuclear medicine tests used to tag and detect hormones in the blood through the use of radionuclides

thyroid function test (TFTs)

Blood test done to assess T3, T4, and calcitonin. May be used to evaluate abnormalities of throid function

total calcium

Measures the amount of calcium in the blood. Results may be used to asses parathyroid function, calcium metabolism, or cancerous conditions

urinalysis (UA)

Physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine

urine glucose

Used as a screen for or to monitor diabtes mellitus; a urine specimen is tested for the presence of glucose

urine ketones

Test to detect presence of ketones in a urine specimen; may indicate diabetes mellitus or hyperthyroidism

computed tomography (CT) scan

May be used to test to bone density in hypoparathyroidism and the size of the adrenal glands in addison disease

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

May be used to examine changes in the size of soft tissues, for example, the pituitary, pancreas, or hypothalamus

radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) scan

May be used to test thyroid function by measuring the gland's ability to concentrate and retain iodine. Useful to test for hyperthyroidism

radiography

X-ray are done to examine suspected endocrine changes that affect the density or thibkness of bone; also may reveal underlying causes of an endocrine disorder

sonography

Aside from visualizing the pancreas, sonography may be used to guide biopsies of the thyroid gland to discern the differences between solid and fluid-filled cysts

adrenalectomy

Bilateral removal of the adrenal glands to reduce excess hormone secretion

hypophysectomy

Excision of the pituitary gland; usually done to remove a pituitary tumor

pancreatectomy

Excision of all or part of the pancreas to remove a tumor or to treat an intractable inflammation of the pancreas

pancreatoduodenectomy

Excision of the head of the pancreas together with the duodenum; used to treat pancreatic cancer. Also called WHIPPLE PROCEDURE

parathyroidectomy

Removal of the parathyroid gland, usually to treat hyperparathyroidism

thyroidectomy

Removal of part or all of the thyroid gland to treat goiter, tumors, or hyperthyroidism that does not respond to medication. Removal of most, but not all, of this gland will result in a regrowth of the gland with normal function. If cancer is detected, a