Introduction toWord Parts and Word
The Endocrine System
Lesson Plan
Chapter 15
Lesson 15 Learning Objectives1. Define and spell the word parts used to create terms for the endocrine system.
2. Identify the major organs of the endocrine system and describe their structure and function.
3. Break down and define common medical terms used for symptoms, diseases, disorders, procedures, treatments, and devices associated with the endocrine system.
4. Build medical terms from the word parts associated with the endocrine system.
5. Pronounce and spell common medical terms associated with the endocrine system. /
Learning Objective / Concepts for Lecture / Teaching Notes
LO 1 / Define and spell the word parts used to create terms for the endocrine system.
Combining Form / Definition
aden/o / gland
adren/o / adrenal gland
crin/o / to secrete
gonad/o / sex gland
hormon/o / to set in motion
pancreat/o / sweetbread, pancreas
ren/o / kidney
thyr/o, thyroid/o / shield, thyroid
/ Teaching Tips
• Say each new term in class, and have the students repeat it.
• Stress the importance of using instructional aids to practice pronunciation.
Classroom Activities
Instruct the student to practice saying each word. The use of a medical dictionary in French, Spanish, and German as appropriate can be very helpful in the translation of new terms.
Did You Know?
Note the correct spelling forms of mucus: as a noun, it is spelled m-u-c-u-s, but when used as an adjective, such as “mucous membrane,” the spelling changes to m-u-c-o-u-s.
Teaching Tips
· Charts and Models: Use anatomical charts and models to illustrate features of the endocrine system as they relate to function.
Teaching Tips
· One of the first things that you will want to explain to students is the difference between exocrine and endocrine. The terms are very similar, so it will be easy for students to confuse them. Talk about the idea that the prefix exo- means outside; exocrine glands secrete to the outside of the body. The prefix endo- means within; the endocrine glands secrete within the body. With this initial confusion out of the way, it will help to start asking the students about different glands they already know. Then follow that by having them determine whether those glands are endocrine or exocrine.
Did You Know?
Hormone is a Greek word meaning “to set into motion.”
Homework Assignments
• Have students complete the Phonetic Spelling Challenge and the Spelling Challenge in Worksheet 1.
• Have the students add the new combining forms, prefixes, and suffixes to their flash cards.
Study the pronunciation for medical terms in this chapter in the:
• Text in parentheses following the term
• Glossary at Medical
Terminology Interactive
LO 2 / Identify the major organs of the endocrine system and describe their structure and function.
1. Pituitary gland—located within the cranial cavity immediately below the brain and connected to the hypothalamus. It is also called the hypophysis. It consists of two lobes:
• Anterior lobe, or adenohypophysis—made up of soft glandular tissue that produces the following hormones:
• Growth hormone (GH)—regulates metabolism and body growth
• Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH)—activates the adrenal gland
• Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH)—stimulates skin pigment production
• Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)—stimulates the thyroid gland
• Prolactin (PRL)—stimulates milk secretion by the mammary glands
• Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)—stimulates development of ova and sperm
• Luteinizing hormone (LH)—stimulates secretion of sex hormones by the gonads
• Posterior lobe, or neurohypophysis—consists of nervous tissue that secretes two hormones:
• Oxytocin (OT)—stimulates contractions of the uterus and milk secretion by the mammary glands
• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)—stimulates water reabsorption by the kidneys and reduces urine volume
2. Pineal gland—located in the cranial cavity, in the center of the brain. It secretes:
• Melatonin—regulates body rhythms, including sleep cycles
3. Thyroid gland—located in the anterior part of the neck, it is a butterfly-shaped endocrine organ that wraps around the larynx. It consists of right and left lobes connected by a narrow band called the isthmus. It secretes the following three hormones:
• Thyroxine (T4)—regulates the breakdown of glucose and the synthesis of most cells in the body
• Triiodothyronine (T3)—works in conjunction with thyroxine to produce the same effects (T4 and T3 are referred to as thyroid hormone)
• Calcitonin (CT)—stimulates the production of new bone material to reduce calcium in the blood
4. Parathyroid glands—located in the anterior part of the neck, they consist of three or four pea-sized organs embedded within the posterior side of the larger thyroid gland. They secrete:
• Parathyroid hormone (PTH)—increases calcium levels in the blood, the opposite effect of calcitonin
5. Adrenal glands—located within the abdominal cavity on the top of each kidney. They also are called the suprarenal glands. Each gland includes a cortex, or outer part, and a medulla, or inner part. The adrenal cortex produces
• Aldosterone—regulates body fluid balance and blood pressure
• Glucocorticoids—reduce inflammation
• Androgens and estrogens—stimulate the development of sex characteristics
The adrenal medulla secretes two hormones. They are
• Epinephrine, or adrenaline—prolongs the condition for the “fight-or-flight” response, which includes an increase in metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.
• Norepinephrine—a neurotransmitter that is a precursor to the release of epinephrine; norepinephrine also prolongs the condition for the “fight-or-flight” response, which includes an increase in metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, etc.
6. Pancreas—located within the abdominal cavity, immediately behind the stomach. It is a soft, oblong organ that performs two functions. They are
• Secretion of hormones—hormones are secreted by a part of the pancreas consisting of clusters of cells called the islets of Langerhans. These clusters are distributed throughout the organ. Each islet secretes two primary hormones:
• Insulin—reduces blood sugar levels by stimulating the conversion of glucose to glycogen and facilitating the uptake of glucose into body cells.
• Glucagon—increases blood sugar levels by stimulating the conversion of glycogen into glucose in the liver, releasing glucose into the bloodstream.
• Secretion of digestive enzymes—will be discussed in the chapter on the digestive system.
7. Thymus gland—a soft gland that shrinks in size after puberty; it is located anterior and above the heart in the thoracic cavity. It secretes
• Thymosin—helps to establish the immune response during early childhood
8. Gonads—produce sex hormones and the reproductive cells, or gametes. They are discussed in the chapter on reproduction, but are
• Testes—the male gonads, which secrete testosterone
• Ovaries—the female gonads, which secrete estrogen and progesterone
• Endocrine cells located in the heart, stomach, and kidneys, to be discussed in other chapters / Classroom Activities
• Ask the students to go to www.hormone.org/public/endocrinologist or any other online health Website and research the following questions:
1. What is an endocrinologist?
2. What is the role of an endocrinologist?
3. How are endocrinology and weight management related?
• Ask each student to cite their reference source and state why or why not it is a valid source of information.
Did You Know?
People with an affected parent or sibling are at 3.5 times greater risk of developing diabetes than are people from diabetes-free families.
Visual Learners
Visual learners will benefit from viewing an animation showing the endocrine system.
Classroom Activities
· Guest Speaker: Invite an endocrinologist to describe the relationship between hormones and target organs.
· Guest Speaker: Invite a person with type 1 and one with type 2 diabetes to discuss the differences in the two conditions and how the endocrinologist treats them.
Classroom Activities
· Start a table on the board listing the glands in the first column. Then make a second column for hormones secreted by each gland, a third column for the target organ, and a fourth column for the effect the hormone has on the target. Students may want to expand the table as they learn pathologies. Caution students that constructing the table is a learning tool, but trying to memorize the table will not substitute for understanding pathologies.
Visual Learners
· Visual learners will benefit from watching an animation showing chemical messengers.
Teaching Tips
· One way to explain the endocrine system to your students is to describe it as being similar to the nervous system. The nervous system is used to transport messages throughout the body to control functions. The endocrine system is similar in that it also sends messages throughout the body to control functions—just with different means. The nervous system uses electric impulses, and the endocrine system uses chemicals.
Visual Learners
Visual learners will benefit from viewing a video on the topic of insulin.
Classroom Activities
· Charts and Models: Use full-size anatomical charts and models to illustrate endocrine system organs.
· Have students review the endocrine glands and their functions by pointing to their own body and practicing appropriate pronunciation of gland names.
Visual Learners/Kinesthetic Learners
Introduce the anatomy and physiology of the endocrine system by labeling and coloring a diagram of the endocrine organs. Include a description of each gland’s general function.
Classroom Activities
· Divide the class into groups and assign each group a gland. Have each group study the conditions that are due to overproduction and underproduction of its hormones. List the signs and symptoms of each.
Homework Assignments
Have students complete the Word Search in Worksheet 1.
Study the pronunciation for medical terms in this chapter in the:
• Text in parentheses following the term
• Glossary at Medical
Terminology Interactive
LO 3 / Break down and define common medical terms used for symptoms, diseases, disorders, procedures, treatments, and devices associated with the endocrine system.
Signs and Symptoms
Prefix / Definition / Combining Form / Definition / Suffix / Definition
ex- / outside, away from / acid/o / a solution or substance with a pH lower than 7.0 / -ia / condition of
poly- / excessive, over, or many / acr/o / extremity / -ism / condition of
dips/o / thirst / -osis / condition of
ophthalm/o / eye / -megaly / abnormally large
ket/o / ketone / -s / more than one
hirsut/o / hairy / -uria / urine, urination
Medical Term / Definition
acidosis / an abnormal accumulation of waste materials that are acidic, often a symptom of diabetes mellitus; acidosis also can be caused by respiratory or kidney disorder
acromegaly / an enlargement of bone structure most prominent in the face and hands, resulting in disfigurement, and caused by the hypersecretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland after puberty
exophthalmos / abnormal protrusion of the eyes
goiter / an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland caused by a tumor, lack of iodine in the diet, or infection
hirsutism / excessive body hair in a masculine pattern
ketosis / excessive amount of ketone bodies in the blood and urine, which is a symptom of an abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates as seen in uncontrolled diabetes and starvation; also known as ketoacidosis
polydipsia / an abnormal state of excessive thirst
polyuria / the excretion of abnormally large volumes of urine
Diseases and Disorders
Prefix / Definition / Combining Form / Definition / Suffix / Definition
endo- / within / aden/o / gland / -al / pertaining to
hyper- / excessive, abnormally high, or above / adren/o / adrenal gland / -emia / condition of blood
hypo- / deficient, abnormally low, or below / calc/i, calc/o / calcium / -ism / condition of
para- / alongside or abnormal / carcin/o / cancer / -itis / inflammation
crin/o / to secrete / -oma / tumor
glyc/o / sweet or sugar / -pathy / disease
gonad/o / sex gland / -penia / abnormal reduction in number, deficiency
muc/o / mucus
pancreat/o / pancreas
thyr/o, thyroid/o / shield, thyroid
Medical Term / Definition
adenitis / inflammation of a gland
adenosis / abnormal condition of a gland
adenocarcinoma / malignant tumor with a grandular or glandlike pattern of cells
adenoma / benign tumor of glandular cells
adrenalitis / inflammation of the adrenal gland
adrenomegaly / abnormal enlargement of the adrenal glands
adrenopathy / general disease of the adrenal gland
cretinism / the thyroid gland’s inability to produce normal levels of growth hormone at birth may develop the condition
Cushing syndrome / a syndrome resulting from hypersecretion of the adrenal cortex, characterized by obesity, moon face, hyperglycemia, and muscle weakness
diabetes insipidus / Caused by hyposecretion of ADH by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, its symptoms include polydipsia and polyuria.
diabetes mellitus / A chronic disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, it includes type I, which requires hormone replacement therapy with insulin, and type II, which usually can be managed with diet and exercise program.
diabetic retinopathy / form of blindness that is associated with diabetes mellitus
endocrinopathy / general disease of the endocrine system
hyperadrenalism / excessive activity of one or more adrenal glands
hypercalcemia / abnormally high calcium levels in the blood
hyperglycemia / abnormally high glucose levels in the blood
hyperinsulinism / excessive amounts of insulin in the blood, which pulls sugar from the blood, resulting in low levels of sugar in the blood, fainting, and convulsions
hyperkalemia / abnormally high potassium levels in the blood
hyperparathyroidism / hypersecretion of the parathyroid glands, usually due to a tumor
hyperthyroidism / hypersecretion of the thyroid gland, characterized by exophthalmos, goiter, rapid heart rate, and weight loss; also called Graves’ disease, or thyrotoxicosis
hypoadrenalism / abnormally low adrenal activtity
hypocalcemia / abnormally low calcium levels in the blood
hypoglycemia / abnormally low blood sugar levels
hypogonadism / disease characterized by abnormally low amounts of follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone
hypoparathyroidism / hyposecretion of the parathyroid gland
hypothyroidism / hyposecretion of the thyroid gland, characterized by slow heart rate, dry skin, low energy, and weight gain
myxedema / advanced hypothyroidism in adults, with the characteristics of low energy, swollen hands and face, and dry skin
pancreatitis / inflammation of the pancreas
parathyroidoma / tumor of the parathyroid gland
pituitary dwarfism / caused by hyposecretion of growth hormone by the pituitary gland at an early age, slowing growth and causing a short but proportional stature; it is a congenital condition that can be treated during childhood with growth hormone therapy