Disorders of the Endocrine

System
 Thyroid Gland
Hormone: Thyroxin

Overactivity (Too much hormone)

- Increased metabolic rate
- Increased food intake but loss of weight
- Hyperthyroidism (Grave’s disease)
- Goiter (swollen neck, maybe bulging eyes)
Goiter
Grave’s Disease
 Thyroid Gland
Hormone: Thyroxin

Underactivity (Not enough hormone)

- Hypothyroidism (Hashimoto’s disease)
- Reduced metabolic rate
- Low food intake but gain of weight
- Myxoedema (when onset in adults)
- Cretinism (when onset in children)
- Can also cause a goiter
Hashimoto’s Disease
Myxoedema
• Puffiness (swelling)
• Fatigue
• Obesity
• Dry, thickened skin
• Mental impairment
• Thin, brittle hair
Cretinism

• Protuberant abdomen
• Short Stature
• Infertility
• Neurological
impairment
• Constant Fatigue
• Obesity
 Thyroid Gland
Hormone: Calcitonin

Overactivity
- Increased Bone Ca, decreased Blood Ca
- Tetany (nerve problems leading to muscle spasms or
cramps)

Underactivity
- Increase Blood Ca, decreased Bone Ca
- Osteoporosis (brittle bones)
- Kidney stones
 Parathyroid Glands
Hormone: Parathormone (PTH)

Underactivity
- Low Blood calcium, High Bone Ca
- Tetany

Overactivity
- High Blood calcium, Low Bone Ca
- Osteoporosis
 Pancreas
Hormone: Insulin

Overactivity
- Low blood sugar level ( ↓BSL)
- Hypoglycemia

Underactivity
- High blood sugar level ( ↑BSL)
- Hyperglycemia
- Diabetes
 Pancreas
Hormone: Glucagon

Overactivity
- High blood sugar level ( ↑BSL)
- Diabetes

Underactivity
- Low blood sugar level ( ↓BSL)
- Hyper insulinism
 Anterior Pituitary Gland
Hormone: Growth Hormone

Overactive
- Gigantism (children - very tall)
- Acromegaly (adults - bones & skin thicken)

Underactive
- Dwarfism (very short)
 Gigantism
The man holding
the baby in the
photo is 8 ft, 2.5
inches tall
Acromegaly
 Dwarfism

Dwarfism occurs
when there is short
supply of GH in
childhood. There
are two types of
dwarfism – Lorrain
and Frohlich’s
 LH, FSH– sex hormones in males
and females that aid in sperm or
egg (gamete) production

Overactive Underactive
• Unknown • Sterility
 Corticoid (Adrenal hormone)
imbalances:

ADDISON’S DISEASE – RARE

CUSHING’S SYNDROME
 Corticoids – inc. blood pressure,
inc. food metabolism and dec.
inflammation
Overactive Underactive
• Cushing’s Syndrome • Addison’s Disease
• Decreased cortisol
and/or aldosterone
production