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Medical Terminology Statement: As with most important subjects, the study of

medical terms is accompanied by many less interesting details. Students must
be able to see the final goal—the lessening of human suffering—to
appreciate the need for understanding the seemingly minor points.

VOCABULARY LIST FOR CHAPTER THIRTEEN

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

Introduction: The term hormone comes from the Greek word ‘hormon’ or

‘hormaein’ which means to stimulate or excite. The hormones control the actions

of the Endocrine System. Hormones are secreted directly into the bloodstream

and are transported by the blood to far-flung tissues throughout the body.

Disorders of the Endocrine System, in general, involve hyposecretion

(underproduction) of hormones or hypersecretion (overproduction) of hormones.

Read the textbook’s Functions of the Endocrine system.

Read the textbook’s Structures of the Endocrine System.

VOCABULARY LIST

(Instructions: Find the definition of each item, write it down, and memorize it for
Quiz Thirteen. Go to Vocabulary List Instructions for how to use this Vocabulary
List.)

Endo- (endocrine)

crin/o (endocrine)

hormone

steroid

-ism (hypercrinism, hypocrinism)

ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)

adren/o, adrenal/o (adrenal glands)

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somat/o (somatotropin)

LTH (lactogenic hormone)

lute/o (luteinizing hormone, LH)

MSH (melanocyte-stimulating hormone)

TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone)

Anti- (antidiuretic hormone, ADH)

oxytocin

acr/o (acromegaly)

gigantism

pituitar/o (hyperpituitarism)

pituit/o (pituitary gland)

diabetes insipidus

-dipsia (polydipsia)

myxedema Quiz Tip: Know symptoms.

Grave’s disease

goiter

exophthalmos

thyroid scan

chemical thyroidectomy

lobectomy

Para- (parathyroid glands)

PTH (parathyroid hormone)

parathyroid/o (parathyroidectomy)
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adrenal glands

cortic/o (corticosteroid)

andr/o (androgens)

medull/o (adrenal medulla)

pancreat/o (pancreas)

diabetes mellitus

ket/o (diabetic ketoacidosis)

thym/o (thymectomy)

pineal/o (pineal gland)

gonad/o (gonad)

gynec/o (gynecomastia)

thyr/o, thyroid/o (thyrotoxicosis)