Endocrine glands
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Definition
Endocrine glands release (secrete) hormones into the bloodstream.
The endocrine glands include:
- Adrenal
- Hypothalamus
- Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas
- Ovaries
- Parathyroid
- Pineal
- Pituitary
- Testes
- Thyroid
Information
Hypersecretion is when an excess of one or more hormone is secreted from a gland. Hyposecretion is when the amount of hormones are released is too low.
There are many types of disorders that can result when too much or too little of a hormone is released.
Disorders that may be associated with abnormal hormone product from a particular gland include:
Adrenal:
- Addison disease
- Adrenogenital syndrome or adrenocortical hyperplasia
- Cushing syndrome
- Pheochromocytoma
Pancreas:
Parathyroid:
- Tetany
- Renal calculi
- Excessive loss of minerals from bone (osteoporosis)
Pituitary:
Testes and ovaries:
- Lack of sex development (unclear genitalia)
Thyroid:
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References
Guber HA, Farag AF. Evaluation of endocrine function. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 24.
Klatt EC. The endocrine system. In: Klatt EC, ed. Robbins and Cotran Atlas of Pathology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 15.
Kronenberg HM, Melmed S, Larsen PR, Polonsky KS. Principles of endocrinology. In: Melmed S, Polonsky KS, Larsen PR, Kronenberg HM, eds. Williams Textbook of Endocrinology. 13th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 1.