Endocrine System Lab
Assignment 1.
Endocrine glands function by releasing hormones that move through the blood to targets throughout
the body. The structures labeled A-J in Figure 2 are true endocrine glands; however, other tissues
and organs, like adipose tissue and your kidneys and heart, can also produce hormones. Identify the
endocrine glands in the figure and then match them with the hormone(s) they produce by writing the
correct letter.
__B__ Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) C
Insulin
F Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) F
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
B Aldosterone D
Melatonin
B Cortisol E
Oxytocin
B Epinephrine I Progesterone
I Estrogen F
Prolactin
E Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) J Testosterone
B Glucagon H
Thyroxine
F Growth hormone (GH) G
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
Assignment 2.
Endocrine disorders can often be difficult to diagnose because many can present very similar
symptoms. Diagnosis often requires a combination of lab work and a patient’s history. On Table 2,
you will see several different endocrine disorders with common physical symptoms and lab results.
Use this information to answer the questions below.
Table 2: Endocrine Disorders
DISORDERS SYMPTOMS LAB TEST RESULTS
Acromegaly Enlarged hands and feet, excessive Elevated levels of insulin,
sweating, fatigue, muscle weakness, growth factor I
pain, limited joint mobility
Addison’s Disease Fatigue, increased pigment in the Low sodium, high potassium,
skin, weight loss, muscle weakness high ACTH, low cortisol in the
blood
Cushing;s Syndrome Backache, anxiety, muscle weakness, High levels of cortisol in the
extra fat deposits on the back of the blood
neck and upper back (aka "buffalo
hump"), females may experience
irregular menstrual cycle
Diabetes Insipidus Frequent urination, excessive thirst Normal blood glucose level, no
glucose in the urine, low ADH
level in the blood
Hyperparathyroidism Excessive thirst, weak or broken High calcium and parathyroid
bones, fatigue, nausea hormone levels in the blood
Hyperthyroidism Elevated body temp, extreme High thyroxine and low TSH in
sweating, nervousness, rapid heart the blood
rate, weight loss, irregular menstrual
cycle in females
Hypothyroidism Fatigue, muscle weakness, Low thyroxine and high TSH in
depression, weight gain, low body the blood
temperature, intolerant of cold
Polycystic Ovarian Acne, unwanted hair growth, weight Elevated levels of testosterone
Syndrome (PCOS) gain, fatigue, infertility, mood and LH, low levels of FSH in
changes, sleep problems blood
Type I Diabetes Mellitus Frequent urination, excessive thirst, Glucose in urine, elevated
weight loss blood glucose, islet cell
antibody in the blood
Type II Diabetes Mellitus Frequent urination, excessive thirst Glucose in urine, elevated
blood glucose, no islet cell
antibody in the blood
Questions:
1. What is the most frequent physical symptom of the disorders described above?
Fatigue, frequent urination and muscle weakness are the most common symptoms.
2. Why are blood tests used to diagnose endocrine disorders?
It shows the endocrine hormones, which can help the doctors determine a diagnosis if there
is one.
3. Why is it so important to consider age and sex when diagnosing an endocrine disorder?
A certain age can determine how much more likely it is to be diagnosed and sex determines
which certain hormones could be involved more often.
Case Study 1:
A 37-year-old woman goes to her doctor and complains of anxiety, muscle weakness, and
depression. Which of the disorders listed on the table above could explain her symptoms? What
other symptoms might you look for or what other tests might you run to distinguish between these
disorders?
Most likely “Cushing’s Syndrome” and “Hypothyroidism”. Both disorders have symptoms of muscle
weakness but Cushing’s Syndrome includes anxiety and Hypothyroidism includes depression.
Further study would be done if she either has an irregular menstrual cycle or low body temperature
to distinguish the disorders.
Case Study 2:
A 34-year-old man complains he is tired a lot and he has lost a substantial amount of weight over
the past few months. A routine blood test shows low sodium levels, but his blood glucose levels are
normal. What test would you order next? Why? What results could help you make a diagnosis?
The test order should be “Addison’s Disease” due to fatigue and muscle weakness, and check for
any change in pigment in the skin that increased. The results would come back with low sodium,
high potassium, high ACTH, low cortisol in the blood.
Case Study 3:
Your patient is a 28-year-old woman who has complained of menstrual irregularities and infertility
despite actively trying to get pregnant for 14 months. She also mentioned that she has to wax her
face a lot due to hair growth. How would you diagnose this patient? Which lab result may explain the
hair growth? What does this patient have to be careful of developing in the future?
I would diagnose this person with PCOS because of the elevated levels of testosterone would
explain the hair growth. This patient has to be careful of gaining weight and controlling levels of
glucose in the future.
Case Study 4:
A seemingly healthy 42-year-old-man comes into the ED with a broken arm. The doctor set the bone
with no issue but is concerned that the patient’s bones are unusually weak. The man follows up with
an endocrinologist and during that appointment, he reports fatigue and nausea. What disorder could
this patient have? How could you confirm the diagnosis?
The patient could potentially have Hyperparathyroidism due to the nausea and weak/broken
bones. I could confirm this by testing calcium levels and parathyroid hormone levels in the blood.
Read the article below and then answer the questions that follow
Corticosteroids: a miracle drug that must be handled with care; The miracle, and
risk, of extended steroid use
by JANE E BRODY ; International Herald Tribune 11-12-2009
As with any strong remedy, corticosteroids come with a downside: side effects that can sometimes be as
serious as the ailments they are intended to treat.
Steroids -- corticosteroids, that is, synthetic versions of the natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands
-- are indeed miracle drugs, capable of restoring the health and saving the lives of countless people with a
wide spectrum of serious ailments. Prednisone may be the best known, but there are scores of others, some
tailor-made to counter specific ailments.
By suppressing the immune response and inflammation, steroids can keep a host of autoimmune diseases and
allergic reactions from ravaging the body. They are the cornerstone of treatment for ailments like rheumatoid
arthritis, asthma, ulcerative colitis, temporal arteritis, psoriasis and even cases of poison ivy.
But as with any strong remedy, corticosteroids come with a downside: side effects that can sometimes be as
serious as the ailments they are intended to treat.
Last week I told about a friend with severe asthma who developed a rare complication that forced him to stop
using the steroids that for decades had helped him breathe. He was losing his vision to steroid-caused
macular degeneration. He found an alternative nondrug therapy, the Buteyko breathing method, that seems to
have kept him well and steroid-free for many months.
But most people who depend on steroids are not so fortunate. For them, using the drugs year in and year out
is a balancing act between benefit and risk. Knowing what those risks are and how they can be minimized can
help people who depend on steroids to be alert to early warning signs of trouble and to take measures to
counteract it.
The likelihood of serious side effects depends on how long steroids are used, how they are taken, what type of
corticosteroid is prescribed and how high the dose must be to keep the ailment under control. They tend to
cause fewer complications when applied to the skin, or when inhaled for days or weeks for an allergic reaction
or asthma. Injected steroids or oral doses taken for months or years -- to treat rheumatoid arthritis, for
example -- are far more likely to cause serious side effects, as are injected steroids.
So an over-the-counter steroid like hydrocortisone, applied to small areas of skin to relieve poison ivy or
eczema, is unlikely to have any untoward effects.
But when injected repeatedly into a muscle or joint, corticosteroids can cause weakening and degenerative
changes that limit their usefulness in treating chronic athletic or overuse injuries.
In most people, chronic use of inhaled steroids, considered medically essential to control most cases of
asthma, has few if any adverse effects. Children may experience retarded growth, but studies have shown
that they eventually catch up and achieve a normal height.
When corticosteroids are taken orally for less than three months, they are associated with temporary side
effects like depression, an increased appetite, insomnia, mood swings and weight gain (partly from water
retention).
Steroids taken orally for more than three months can have more profound and sometimes irreversible effects.
Serious side effects are more likely when steroids are taken in high doses for a year or longer.
In addition to weight gain, side effects may include high blood pressure, deteriorating bones that can result in
osteoporosis, diabetes, thinning of the skin, muscle weakness, moon face (caused by increased fat deposits,
which may also occur in the stomach, chest and upper back), cataracts, glaucoma, ulcers, easy bruising,
increased sweating, acne, arterial deposits that can lead to heart disease and, because of their effect on
immunity, delayed healing of wounds and an increased risk of infection that can persist for a year or more
after the medication is stopped.
Excess weight resulting from steroid use is normally lost within six months to a year after the drug is stopped
and appetite returns to normal.
When prescribed a corticosteroid, the most important thing is to follow dosing instructions to the letter. Use
no more than is needed, and never abruptly stop steroids. The drugs suppress the function of your adrenal
glands, which need time to recover. When the condition under treatment abates, gradually reduce the steroid
dosage as instructed by your doctor.
Answer the following questions by highlighting the answer.
1. Where are natural corticosteroids produced?
a. Thymus
b. Adrenal glands
c. Pituitary
d. Pons
2. What is the best known corticosteroid?
a. Prednisone
b. Colitis
c. Testosterone
d. Aspirin
3. In general, corticosteroids work by:
a. Elevating the blood pressure
b. Reducing swelling
c. Improving circulation
d. Suppressing the immune system
4. Corticosteroids are used to treat what ailment(s)?
a. Asthma
b. Arthritis
c. Psoriasis
d. All of these
5. Long term use of a steroid inhaler by children can cause what side effect?
a. Delayed sexual development
b. Mood swings
c. Weight gain
d. Slowed growth
6. More serious side effects occur when steroids are:
a. Taken for long periods
b. Taken in children
c. Injected
d. Prescribed by doctors
7. Why is it necessary to slowly stop the use of steroids, rather than abruptly stop usage?
a. The heart could suffer damage
b. The adrenal glands need time to start producing natural hormones
c. Seizures can occur from withdrawal
8. What is the theme of this article?
a. Steroids can help treat illness, but there are also risks
b. Steroids should only be taken with a doctor’s supervision
c. Steroids are dangerous and should not be legal
9. Based on the context of the sentence in the last paragraph, what do you think the definition of
"abates" is?
a. Becomes worse
b. Stops working
c. Goes away
[Link] on the context of the article, what do you think an "autoimmune disease" is?
a. When your immune system reacts to things it should not
b. An ailment that is easily transmitted from one person to another
c. A problem caused by the extended use of steroids