Post-text assignments

1 Give the meaning of the following:

1) glands	a) near the kidney
2) hormone	c) a ductless, glandlike body situated near the throat
3) cell	d) a small cone-shaped structure in the brain
4) thymus	g) any organ that separated certain elements from the blood and secrets
5) pituitary	b) a chemical substance formed in some organ of the body and carried to another organ or tissue, here it has a specific effect
6) adrenal	f) a small unit of protoplasm, usually with a nucleus and an enclosing membrane
7) pineal	e) a small, oval endocrine gland attached to the base of the brain

2 Choose the proper continuation:

1) The foundations of the endocrine system are	a) the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroids, adrenal, pineal body, the reproductive glands.
2) The major gland that make up the human endocrine system are	b) the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, thymus, skin, placenta.
3) Some non-endocrine organs also produce and release hormones, they are	c) the hormones and glands

3 Translate the following:

1 The adrenal glands are shaped like the French Emperor Napoleon’s hat and, just as Napoleon’s three-cornered hat sat on his head, so each gland is perched on each of the kidneys.

2 These glands are about one to two inches in length and weight only a fraction of an ounce each while secreting more than three dozen hormones.

3 The pancreas is a long tapered gland which lies across and behind the stomach.

4 Most of the pancreas consists of tissues which are embedded in «nested» cells.

5 The Greek name «pancreas» meaning «all flesh» or «all meat», is descriptive of the protein composition of this powerful organ which resembles a fish with a large head and a long tail.

6 The pituitary gland, which is located in the center of the skull, just behind the bridge of the nose, is about the size of a pea.

7 The pituitary gland has two distinct parts, the anterior and the posterior lobes, each of which releases different hormones which affect bone growth and regulate activity in other glands.

8 The «hypothalamus» is a tiny cluster of brain cells just above the pituitary gland, which transmits messages from the body to the brain.

4 Give the explanation of following terms:

Hyperthyroidism, growth hormone, epinephrine, corticotrophin.

Unit 8

Pre-text assignment

Learn the key words and phrases:

vital, disruption, insulin, acromegaly, hirsutism, fragile, fatigue, “orphan” disease, Cushing’s syndrome, exogenous, endogenous.

Endocrine System Disorders

The endocrine system is composed of a network of organs and glands responsible for producing, storing, and secreting hormones that help to maintain and control vital functions such as growth, reproduction, and energy levels. There are several endocrine system diseases that result from disruptions in this complex system:

Diabetes – оne of the more prevalent endocrine system diseases, diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas does not produce enough of the hormone insulin or the body does not effectively use the insulin it does produce. Because insulin is instrumental in helping the body convert sugars and starches into necessary energy, there can be serious consequences if diabetes is left undiagnosed and/or untreated.

Growth disorders – given that the endocrine system regulates growth processes, endocrine system diseases often result in growth disorders. If the body produces too much growth hormone (GH), gigantism or acromegaly (gigantism in adults) can occur; too little growth hormone results a condition called growth hormone deficiency, or GHD, which can cause children to grow more slowly than normal.

Osteoporosis – osteoporosis, which occurs in both women and men (although the former are four times more likely to develop the disease), is a condition in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. This can be the result of many factors including a decrease in the hormone estrogen occurring during menopause in women, or a decrease in testosterone occurring in men as they age. Because osteoporosis often has no obvious symptoms, it is often left undiagnosed until the person affected suffers a broken or fractured bone during a minor fall.

Polycystic ovary syndrome – also referred to as PCOS, polycystic ovary syndrome is one of the more common endocrine system diseases, affecting between 7% and 10% of women aged 15 to 45. PCOS is a condition associated with symptoms of infrequent or irregular menstruation, male hormone excess symptoms like hirsutism (increased and unwanted hair growth), acne and difficulties with conceiving. Patients with PCOS can also have multiple egg-containing cysts in the ovaries. They have a higher chance of developing various metabolic complications like diabetes and hypertension.

Thyroid disorders – thyroid hormones, hormones produced by the thyroid gland, influence nearly all of the body's symptoms. Thyroid problems include hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone), hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone), thyroid nodules, thyroid cancer, and more.

In addition to the endocrine system diseases listed above, there are a number of hormone disorders that are far rarer. Cushing's syndrome and Addison's disease are two of these less common diseases.

Cushing's Syndrome

Cushing's syndrome, less common than the endocrine system diseases discussed above, occurs as the result of too much cortisol in the blood for an extended period of time. Cortisol is a hormone that, in normal amounts, helps the body perform a number of important functions including converting fat into energy, maintaining immune system function, and responding to stress.

The two types of Cushing's syndrome, exogenous (from an outside source) and endogenous (from a source within the body), share a common list of symptoms but different causes. Exogenous Cushing's syndrome occurs in patients taking cortisol-like medications, and is temporary, ceasing when the patient has finished the course of medication. The endogenous form of this endocrine system disease is far rarer, and results from a tumor or tumors either on the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland.

Cushing's syndrome symptoms include the following:

• weight gain;

• muscle loss and weakness;

• easily-bruised, fragile skin;

• reduced sex drive;

• depression/inability to think clearly.

Addison's Disease

Addison's disease, also among the rare endocrine system diseases, occurs in fewer than 150 people in a million. Also referred to as primary adrenal insufficiency, Addison's disease occurs when the adrenal glands, which are located at the top of each kidney, produce an insufficient amount of steroid hormones despite the presence of an adequate amount of ACTH, the hormone that triggers the adrenal glands to release steroids.

The steroid hormones produced by the adrenal glands, and deficient during Addison's disease, hold many important functions including the regulation of blood sugar levels, helping the body fight infection and stress, and maintaining normal sexual drive. Addison's disease symptoms include the following:

• fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite;

• muscle and joint pain;

• gastrointestinal problems (nausea, vomiting, etc.);

• darkening of the skin on the face, neck, and back of hands;

• low blood pressure;

• a craving for salt.

There is a great variety of other endocrine system diseases not mentioned here that can affect people throughout all stages of life. Indeed, besides the more common conditions, which include diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome, there are more than 6,000 rare or «orphan» diseases.