Disorders of the Endocrine System

Hyperfunction: too much hormone being produced

Hypofunction: not enough hormone being produced

Disease Occurs due to Irregular Amounts of Hormones Being Produced

Hyperfunction of the pituitary so too much growth hormone is produced during childhood

Symptoms: ◦ Excessive height

Gigantism

Hyperfunction of the pituitary so too much growth hormone is produced in adulthood

Symptoms: Overdevelopment of bones in the face, hands, and feet; protruding chin

Acromegaly

Hypofunction of the pituitary so not enough growth hormone is produced in childhood

Symptoms: Short stature

Dwarfism

Thyroid produces too much thyroxine

Symptoms:◦ Goiter: Enlargement of

the thyroid gland◦ Exophthalmos: Bulging

eyeballs

Hyperthyroidism

Thyroid does not produce enough thyroxine Symptoms:

◦ Obesity◦ Dry, itchy skin◦ Dry, brittle hair◦ Muscle cramps

Hypothyroidism

Hyperfunction of the parathyroid causing it to produce too much parathyroid hormone

Decreased calcium levels effect the function of the nerves

Symptoms:◦ Convulsive twitching develops◦ Person dies due to spasms of the respiratory

muscles

Tetany

Hyperfunction of the adrenal cortex which causes and increase in adrenocorticosteroids

Symptoms:◦ Obesity◦ Muscle weakness◦ High blood pressure◦ Excessive hair growth◦ Buffalo hump

Cushings’ Syndrome

Hypofunction of the adrenal cortex results in not enough adrendocorticosteriods produced

Symptoms:◦ Bronzing of the skin◦ Not enough glucose in the blood◦ Low blood pressure

Addison’s Disease

Hypofuction of the pancreas causing a decrease in insulin production

Too much glucose is left in the blood Symptoms:

◦ Increased hunger and thirst◦ Increased urination◦ Weight loss◦ Blurred vision

Diabetes Mellitus