Q. What is endocrinology?
A branch of medicine that deals with hormones and glands that produce them- endocrine glands.
Q. Endocrine glands are…
Pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenal, testes, ovaries and endocrine pancreas.
Q. Where is pituitary gland located?
It is a small gland (size of a pea) located in the skull: well behind the eyes and attached to the part of brain called hypothalamus.
Q. What is the role of pituitary gland?
It produces hormones that regulate most other glands.
Q. What hormones are produced by pituitary gland?
Q. What is the role if thyroid gland?
It produces two principal hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) which regulate the rate of metabolism and affect function of many other organs in the body. It also produces calcitonin which plays part in regulation of calcium metabolism.
Q. What is a goitre?
Goitre is an enlarged thyroid gland. A person with goitre can have overactive, normal or underactive thyroid function.
Q. What happens if a person has… overactive thyroid?
They can become intolerant of heat, sweaty, lose weight, develop diarrhoea. Heart rate also quickens, so some experience palpitations
Q. What about … underactive thyroid?
More or less the opposite of overactive thyroid: people feel inappropriately cold, they gain weight. Their mental agility decreases, heart slows down and yes, they can experience constipation.
Q. What is the role of parathyroid glands?
They regulate calcium and bone metabolism.
Q. So what happens if a person has overactive parathyroid glands?
Their calcium becomes high: this can lead to kidney stones, heart rhythm disturbances, mood problems.
Q. What happens if a person has low testosterone?
In men who have finished their development symptoms are tiredness, sweats, lack of libido, and they tend to shave less frequently.
Q. Can testosterone than be replaced in women as well?
Yes it can. The dose given is smaller than the dose in men.
A branch of medicine that deals with hormones and glands that produce them- endocrine glands.
Q. Endocrine glands are…
Pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenal, testes, ovaries and endocrine pancreas.
Q. Where is pituitary gland located?
It is a small gland (size of a pea) located in the skull: well behind the eyes and attached to the part of brain called hypothalamus.
Q. What is the role of pituitary gland?
It produces hormones that regulate most other glands.
Q. What hormones are produced by pituitary gland?
- Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH)
- In women these hormones regulate periods and ovulation
- In men sperm and testosterone production
- TSH- stimulates thyroid gland;
- Growth hormone: regulates growth, metabolism and sense of wellbeing
- ACTH - stimulates adrenal glands;
- Prolactin- regulates breast feeding;
- Desmopressin- participates in thirst regulation
- Oxytocin- helps with uterine contractions in labour
Q. What is the role if thyroid gland?
It produces two principal hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) which regulate the rate of metabolism and affect function of many other organs in the body. It also produces calcitonin which plays part in regulation of calcium metabolism.
Q. What is a goitre?
Goitre is an enlarged thyroid gland. A person with goitre can have overactive, normal or underactive thyroid function.
Q. What happens if a person has… overactive thyroid?
They can become intolerant of heat, sweaty, lose weight, develop diarrhoea. Heart rate also quickens, so some experience palpitations
Q. What about … underactive thyroid?
More or less the opposite of overactive thyroid: people feel inappropriately cold, they gain weight. Their mental agility decreases, heart slows down and yes, they can experience constipation.
Q. What is the role of parathyroid glands?
They regulate calcium and bone metabolism.
Q. So what happens if a person has overactive parathyroid glands?
Their calcium becomes high: this can lead to kidney stones, heart rhythm disturbances, mood problems.
Q. What happens if a person has low testosterone?
In men who have finished their development symptoms are tiredness, sweats, lack of libido, and they tend to shave less frequently.
- Prepubertal boys: do not brake voice, grow tall and have sparse beard.
- Women: libido (sexual drive) can be affected.
Q. Can testosterone than be replaced in women as well?
Yes it can. The dose given is smaller than the dose in men.