Endocrinology is a branch of internal medicine dealing with hormones, the chemical messengers released internally to regulate the body's physiologic functions. [1] [2] Endocrinologists diagnose and manage diseases of endocrine glands, including hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, pancreatic islets, adrenals, testes, and ovaries. Some of the most common conditions treated are diabetes mellitus, diseases of the thyroid gland, metabolic bone disorders, pituitary disorders, and disorders of the reproductive system and infertility; in children, typical conditions are growth deficiency, delay of puberty, and a variety of genetic disorders. In endocrinology, diagnosis is heavily relied on laboratory tests, as it is important to find out diseases before they actually become clinically evident; [2] still, medical history and physical examination remain indispensable. [3] As a branch of internal medicine, practice of endocrinology makes use of common medical instruments, used by all or most clinical specialties, like the stethoscope or the sphygmomanometer. The following list does not include these, but only instruments that have relatively specific uses central to endocrinology (but not necessarily limited to it). They are either utilized by the physician (generally the endocrinologist themselves, or potentially by a different specialist, like a radiologist) for diagnosis or treatment; or prescribed for patient use.
Instrument | Description | Uses | Image |
---|---|---|---|
General | |||
Ultrasound system | A console, or a portable system, which includes a monitor and a transducer, and utilizes ultrasound to image body tissues. | To image the thyroid and parathyroid glands and neck lymph nodes; also, to guide diagnostic fine needle aspiration [4] or therapeutic ethanol injection to these organs. [5] To evaluate testes (scrotal ultrasound) and ovaries (pelvic ultrasound). [6] | |
Diabetes | |||
Continuous glucose monitor | Consists of a sensor electrode (implanted or disposable) that measures glucose concentration in the interstitial fluid, and a receiver device where the measurements are sent through by a transmitter to be displayed. | To automatically measure glucose at regular intervals (e.g. every 5–15 minutes). Measurements can be displayed to the patient continuously, or after scanning the device. An alarm may sound to notify of measured or predicted hyper- or hypoglycemia. [7] [8] | |
Glucose meter | A portable electronic device that takes single-use strips, where a drop of blood is placed. Allows self-monitoring by the patient. | To measure blood glucose [9] | |
Insulin pen | A portable drug-delivery device, comprising an insulin container (prefilled for disposable pens, or refillable with cartridges); a dialing system to select the dose (in increments of 0.5 or 1 Unit); and a button which delivers the drug when pressed; disposable needles are attached prior to each use. | To administrate insulin under the skin. [10] Smart insulin pens have been developed that wirelessly connect to mobile apps, to log doses and variously facilitate therapy. [11] | |
Insulin pump | A small, portable pump, which delivers insulin from a container, via a plastic tubule and a cannula, under the skin. | To continuously infuse fast-acting insulin that covers the basal insulin needs of the body, and also bolus doses as needed for meals or high glucose values. Pumps can be augmented with continuous glucose monitors, to better control insulin administration. [12] | |
Lancing device | A portable instrument that takes single-use needles or lancets. It contains a spring, which is cocked and released by buttons. Once loaded, the device is held against a fingertip, and upon release the spring drives the lancet to prick the skin rapidly, and thereby less painfully. It also includes a controlling system to alter the penetration depth. | To produce a drop of capillary blood for blood sugar testing. [13] | |
Thyroid gland disorders | |||
Hertel exophthalmometer | A system of mirrors or prisms that projects a lateral view of the eye against a ruler that measures the distance from the lateral canthus to the anterior surface of the cornea | To evaluate the prominence of the eye, which increases in hyperthyroidism [14] [15] | |
Luedde exophthalmometer | A transparent ruler, held against the lateral rim of the orbit | To evaluate the prominence of the eye [15] | |
Disorders of male sex hormones | |||
Nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity device | A wearable device including loop transducers that are wrapped around the penis, which connects to a microcomputer. | To evaluate nocturnal erections end male sexual potency [16] [17] | |
Prader orchidometer | A string of testicle-shaped beads of increasing size [18] [19] | To measure, by comparison, the size of testicles [19] | |
Seager orchidometer | A calliper | To measure the long axis of the testicle [19] |
Endocrinology is a branch of biology and medicine dealing with the endocrine system, its diseases, and its specific secretions known as hormones. It is also concerned with the integration of developmental events proliferation, growth, and differentiation, and the psychological or behavioral activities of metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sleep, digestion, respiration, excretion, mood, stress, lactation, movement, reproduction, and sensory perception caused by hormones. Specializations include behavioral endocrinology and comparative endocrinology.
The endocrine system is a messenger system in an organism comprising feedback loops of hormones that are released by internal glands directly into the circulatory system and that target and regulate distant organs. In vertebrates, the hypothalamus is the neural control center for all endocrine systems.
The thyroid, or thyroid gland, is an endocrine gland in vertebrates. In humans, it is in the neck and consists of two connected lobes. The lower two thirds of the lobes are connected by a thin band of tissue called the isthmus (pl.: isthmi). The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck below the Adam's apple. Microscopically, the functional unit of the thyroid gland is the spherical thyroid follicle, lined with follicular cells (thyrocytes), and occasional parafollicular cells that surround a lumen containing colloid. The thyroid gland secretes three hormones: the two thyroid hormones – triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) – and a peptide hormone, calcitonin. The thyroid hormones influence the metabolic rate and protein synthesis and growth and development in children. Calcitonin plays a role in calcium homeostasis. Secretion of the two thyroid hormones is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland. TSH is regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which is produced by the hypothalamus.
Hirsutism is excessive body hair on parts of the body where hair is normally absent or minimal. The word is from early 17th century: from Latin hirsutus meaning "hairy". It usually refers to a male pattern of hair growth in a female that may be a sign of a more serious medical condition, especially if it develops well after puberty. Cultural stigma against hirsutism can cause much psychological distress and social difficulty. Discrimination based on facial hirsutism often leads to the avoidance of social situations and to symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Multiple endocrine neoplasia is a condition which encompasses several distinct syndromes featuring tumors of endocrine glands, each with its own characteristic pattern. In some cases, the tumors are malignant, in others, benign. Benign or malignant tumors of nonendocrine tissues occur as components of some of these tumor syndromes.
Parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands in the neck of humans and other tetrapods. Humans usually have four parathyroid glands, located on the back of the thyroid gland in variable locations. The parathyroid gland produces and secretes parathyroid hormone in response to low blood calcium, which plays a key role in regulating the amount of calcium in the blood and within the bones.
Calcitonin is a 32 amino acid peptide hormone secreted by parafollicular cells (also known as C cells) of the thyroid (or endostyle) in humans and other chordates in the ultimopharyngeal body. It acts to reduce blood calcium (Ca2+), opposing the effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH).
An insulinoma is a tumour of the pancreas that is derived from beta cells and secretes insulin. It is a rare form of a neuroendocrine tumour. Most insulinomas are benign in that they grow exclusively at their origin within the pancreas, but a minority metastasize. Insulinomas are one of the functional pancreatic neuroendocrine tumour (PNET) group. In the Medical Subject Headings classification, insulinoma is the only subtype of "islet cell adenoma".
Pediatric endocrinology is a medical subspecialty dealing with disorders of the endocrine glands, such as variations of physical growth and sexual development in childhood, diabetes and many more.
Endocrine glands are ductless glands of the endocrine system that secrete their products, hormones, directly into the blood. The major glands of the endocrine system include the pineal gland, pituitary gland, pancreas, ovaries, testicles, thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, hypothalamus and adrenal glands. The hypothalamus and pituitary glands are neuroendocrine organs.
The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is a branch of the vagus nerve that supplies all the intrinsic muscles of the larynx, with the exception of the cricothyroid muscles. There are two recurrent laryngeal nerves, right and left. The right and left nerves are not symmetrical, with the left nerve looping under the aortic arch, and the right nerve looping under the right subclavian artery then traveling upwards. They both travel alongside the trachea. Additionally, the nerves are among the few nerves that follow a recurrent course, moving in the opposite direction to the nerve they branch from, a fact from which they gain their name.
Testosterone cypionate, sold under the brand name Depo-Testosterone among others, is an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication which is used mainly in the treatment of low testosterone levels in men. It is also used in hormone therapy for transgender men. It is given by injection into muscle or subcutaneously, once every one to four weeks, depending on clinical indication.
Endocrine diseases are disorders of the endocrine system. The branch of medicine associated with endocrine disorders is known as endocrinology.
An androgen-dependent condition, disease, disorder, or syndrome, is a medical condition that is, in part or full, dependent on, or is sensitive to, the presence of androgenic activity in the body.
Palpation thyroiditis refers to the development of thyroid inflammation due to mechanical damage to thyroid follicles. This can occur by vigorous repeated palpation or surgical manipulation. It is a type of subacute thyroiditis. Pathology shows multifocal granulomatous folliculitis. T cells predominate compared to B cells. There may be initial transient hyperthyroidism due to leakage of preformed thyroid hormone in blood.
Testosterone phenylpropionate, or testosterone phenpropionate, also known as testosterone hydrocinnamate, is a synthetic anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) and an androgen ester – specifically, the C17β phenylpropionate ester of testosterone – which was formerly marketed in Romania. It was first synthesized in 1951 and was first described in the literature by 1953. The medication was an ingredient of several isolated AAS commercial products, but was never widely used. Testosterone phenylpropionate was also notably a component of Sustanon and Omnadren, as well as of Estandron Prolongatum, Lynandron Prolongatum, and Mixogen. TPP was previously available in Great Britain.
Leonid Poretsky is a Russian-born American endocrinologist. His research interests include mechanisms of insulin action in the ovary, endocrinological aspects of AIDS, and clinical outcomes in diabetes. He has authored over 150 publications and has served on the National Institutes of Health's review committees and on the editorial boards of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism and other endocrine journals.
The fetal endocrine system is one of the first systems to develop during prenatal development of a human individual. The endocrine system arises from all three embryonic germ layers. The endocrine glands that produce the steroid hormones, such as the gonads and adrenal cortex, arise from the mesoderm. In contrast, endocrine glands that arise from the endoderm and ectoderm produce the amine, peptide, and protein hormones.
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE), formerly known as the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, is a professional community of physicians specializing in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. AACE's mission is elevating clinical endocrinology to improve global health. The association is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, US.
The pharmacology of testosterone, an androgen and anabolic steroid (AAS) medication and naturally occurring steroid hormone, concerns its pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and various routes of administration.