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Health Encyclopedia
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[return to top] acromegaly - excessive growth due to the production of excessive growth hormone by the pituitary gland. adrenal cortex - the outer portion of the adrenal gland that secretes hormones that are vital to the body. aldosterone - a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex which affects blood pressure and saline balance. amyloidosis - a rare disease which causes the buildup of amyloid, a protein and starch, in tissues and organs. androgen hormone - a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex which affects blood pressure and saline balance. [return to top] basal metabolic rate (BMR) - a measurement of energy required to keep the body functioning at rest. Measured in calories, metabolic rates increase with exertion, stress, fear, and illness. bromocriptine - a drug which acts on hormone-producing tumors to suppress its hormone-producing function. [return to top] calcitonin - a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland which controls the levels of calcium and phosphorous in the blood. computed tomography (CT or CAT scan) - a non-invasive procedure that takes cross-sectional images of the brain or other internal organs; to detect any abnormalities that may not show up on an ordinary x-ray. corticosteroids - hormones produced by the adrenal gland, consisting of hydrocortisone (or cortisol). [return to top] [return to top] endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) - this procedure involves inserting an endoscope (viewing tube) through the stomach and into the small intestine. A special dye injected during this procedures shows the ducts in the biliary system. estrogen - a hormone secreted by the ovaries which affect many aspects of the female body, including menstrual cycles and pregnancy. [return to top] [return to top] glucagon - a protein hormone secreted by the pancreas to stimulate the liver to produce glucose. gonadotropins - luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, produced by the pituitary gland. gonads - ovaries and testes. [return to top] hirsutism - excessive growth of body and facial hair, including the chest, stomach, and back hormones - chemical substances created by the body that control numerous body functions. hydrocortisone - a hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex which affects metabolism. hypothalamus - the portion of the brain that stimulates the pituitary gland. [return to top] insulin - a hormone released by the pancreas in response to increased levels of sugar in the blood. intravenous - introducing a fluid into the bloodstream through a vein (usually in the patient's forearm). islets of Langerhans - pancreas cells that produce insulin and glucagon - important regulators of sugar metabolism. isthmus - tissue that connects the two lobes of the thyroid. [return to top] [return to top] [return to top] [return to top] magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) - a non-invasive procedure that produces two-dimensional view of an internal organ or structure, especially the brain and spinal cord. metabolism - the chemical activity that occurs in cells, releasing energy from nutrients or using energy to create other substances, such as proteins. [return to top] [return to top] oxytocin - a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland which plays a role in childbirth. [return to top] placenta - this organ grows in the uterus during pregnancy and connects the blood supplies of the mother and baby. polyps - a growth that projects from the lining of mucous membrane, such as the intestine. progesterone - a hormone secreted by the ovaries which affect many aspects of the female body, including menstrual cycles and pregnancy. prolactin - a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland which affects growth of the mammary glands. [return to top] [return to top] radioisotope scan - uses radioactive substances introduced into the body to create an image of the functioning adrenal gland. [return to top] sarcoidosis - a rare inflammation of the lymph nodes and other tissues throughout the body. sella turcica - bony structure that houses the pituitary gland. suprarenal glands - another name for the adrenal glands. [return to top] thyroid scan - uses a radioactive substance to create an image of the thyroid as it is functioning. thyroxine (T4) - a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland which regulates metabolism. triiodothyronine (T3) - a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland which regulates metabolism. [return to top] ultrasound - a diagnostic technique which uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the internal organs. [return to top] [return to top] [return to top] x-ray - electromagnetic energy used to produce images of bones and internal organs onto film. [return to top] [return to top] Click here to view the
Online Resources of Endocrinology
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