Definition
Endocrine glands produce and secrete hormones into the blood or lymph systems. These glands include the thyroid, parathyroid, hypothalamus, pineal, pituitary, adrenal, islands of Langerhans in the pancreas, and the gonads (testes and ovaries). The effects of these hormones may affect one organ or tissue, or the entire body.

Information
There are many disorders that can result when too few hormones are secreted (hyposecretion) or too many are secreted (hypersecretion). Here is a partial list of disorders that may result when a particular gland does not produce the right amount of hormones.

Thyroid:

 
• congenital hypothyroidism  
• myxedema  
• goiter  
• thyrotoxicosis

Parathyroid:

 
• tetany  
• renal calculi  
• excessive loss of minerals from bone

Adrenal:

 
• Addison’s disease  
• adrenogenital syndrome  
• Cushing’s syndrome  
• pheochromocytoma

Pituitary:

 
• dwarfism  
• acromegaly  
• diabetes  
• gigantism  
• diabetes insipidus

Testes and ovaries:

 
• lack of sex development (ambiguous genitalia)

Pancreas:

 
• diabetes  
• hypoglycemia

Medical Encyclopedia

All ArmMed Media material is provided for information only and is neither advice nor a substitute for proper medical care. Consult a qualified healthcare professional who understands your particular history for individual concerns.