Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Pituitary and Adrenal Cortex
Endocrine disorders
36
Veterinary Medicine
Undergraduate 4
04/20/2014

Additional Veterinary Medicine Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What is an endocrine axis?
Definition
The things/processes involved in an endocrine response.
Like:
Hypothalmus-->Pituitary--->Adrenal cortex
Or generically:
Stimulus --> Endocrine glands --> Hormones --> Response --> Target tissue
Term
How do hormones work (in general how do they travel to the target tissue?)
Definition
Hormones are released into the circulation by the secreatory/endocrine cell. It will then affect ANY CELL IN THE BODY WITH A RECEPTOR FOR THE HORMONE
Term
What are the two ways hormones can be transported in the blood?
Definition
Dissolved (hydrophilic)
Or bound to carrier proteins (hydrophobic)
Term
Which type of hormone (hydrophilic or hydrophobic) is secreted by exocytosis?
Definition
Hydrophilic, cannot cross the lipid bi-layer
Term
What is the difference between primary and secondary endocrine organs?
Definition
A primary organ is on that has secretion of hormones as it's no. 1 function (i.e. pituitary) while a secondary one has it as a secondary function (i.e. heart)
Term
In a generic sort of way, describe the structure of an endocrine gland
Definition
The secretory cells are surrounded and permeated by an extensive capillary network to allow fast delivery of substrates and fast excretion of hormones
Term
What are the 5 parts of the pituitary gland?
Definition
Posterior pituitary
Infundibulum (the stalk)
Pars nervosa
Anterior pituitary
Pars tuberalis (wraps around the infundibulum, like a tube)
Pars intermedia (it's in the middle..)
Pars distalis (anatomically it is the most distant from the hypothalamus. See what I did there?)
Term
Which part of the pituitary gland is physically, anatomically and histologistical connected to the hypothalamus?
Definition
The Posterior pituitary (infundibulum and pars nervosa)
Term
Does the anterior pituitary share a capillary bed with the hypothalamus?
Definition
Nope
Term
What is a trophic hormone?
Definition
One the stimulates the release of hormones from an endocrine gland
Term
Define tertiary, secondary and primary endocrine disorders
Definition
Tertiary - the problem originates from the hypothalamus
Secondary - the problem originates from the second organ in the axis (pituitary for e.g.)
Primary - the problem originates in the final organ in the axis (adrenal cortex for e.g.)
Term
From outside to in, what are the 5 layers of the adrenal gland?
Definition
Capsule, zona glomerulosa, zona fasiculata, zona reticularis, medulla
Term
What are the products of the adrenal gland (outside to in)
Definition
Aldosterone
Corticosteroids
Sex hormones
Catecholmines
Term
What are some biological actions of cortisol?
Definition
Gluconeogenic (this is why you get a stress increase in glucose in some species)
Lipolytic
Protein catabolism
Insulin antagonism (see glucose)
Bone resorption
Anti inflam
Immune suppresive
RBC production
Down reg of ADH
Term
What defines a 'Stress Leukogram'?
Definition
SMILED
Segmented neutrophils and Monocytes Increased
Lymphocytes and Esinophills Decreased

NB: Monocytes not always increased
Term
What causes a Stress Leukogram?
Definition
Increased cortisol, leading to anti-inflam effects.
Marginalised neutrophils are mobilised, while lymphoid cell multiplication and eosinophils are supressed
Term
Which disease process is primarily related to the metabolic effects of glucocorticoids?
Definition
HyperA - Cushings - HAD
Term
Which disese process is primarily related to a decreased in mineralocorticoid levels?
Definition
HypoA - Addisons - HOD
Hahahaha
Hypo is slow, HODor is slow, Addison likes to help slow people.. Hahahahahha
I've been staring at my computer for too long...
Term
What are some of the causes for HyperA?
Definition
Gland dysfunction (primary, secondry or tertirary)
Stress induced (chronic stress - adrenal hyperplasia, but no real clinical signs)
Iatrogenic
Cortisol producing neoplasia, quite rare in the animals
Term
What are some of the common clinical signs of HAD?
Definition
PU/PD
Polyphagia
Lethargy
Potbelly
Pnating
Muscle weakness
UTI (immune suppressed)
Truncal alopecia
Other skin changes
Term
What is the most common cause of HAD in cats and dogs?
Definition
Pituitary adenomas (80-85% of the time)
Term
Which companion animal species is HAD more common in?
Definition
Dogs, not a common condition in cats
Term
What are some of the changes seen in HAD clin path?
Definition
Stress leukogram
Moderate to marked ALP increase
Mild ALT increase
Mild to moderate cholesterol increase
USG 1.006-1.015
NB, T4 down in 70% of cases

Other less common signs are increased glucose and BUN and UTI without inflamation
Term
How can we test for HAD?
Definition
Serum cortisol
Urine cortisol:creatine
LDDT
HDDT
ACTH stimuation test
Blood ACTH

The aim is to differentiate between HAD and stress
Term
Why is serum cortisol often an inaccurate measure?
Definition
[Cortisol] will be increased by stress
Term
What is the benifit of urinary cortisol:creatine?
Definition
Corrects for episodic variation due to short term stress.
This is a SeNsitive test as it rules OUT disease (SPIN and SNOUT).
If the ratio is less than 17 then there is strong evidence that the dog does not have HAD, while if it is greater than 17, the dog may have HAD.
Cortisol
-----------
Creatinine

Creatinine is a bigger word so it goes on the bottom
Term
How does the low dose dex test work?
Definition
Give a small amount of dex at 4 and 8 hours and measure the cortisol response. A normal animal will suppress the cortisol production at 4hrs post injection, while a HAD animal may not. If there is no suppression then it is HAD.
ADH - no supression at all
PDH - Suppression at 4 hrs and then escape at 8
Term
How does the ACTH test work?
Definition
Cortisol is measured at +0 and +1hrs after a does of synthetic ACTH
HAD animals will hyper respond (large cortisol reserves) while HOD animals and iatrogenic HAD animals will hyporespond (no cortisol reserve)
Term
Is LDDT or ACTH more usful in stressed and sick dogs?
Definition
ACTH
Term
How can you differentiate between PDH and ADH?
Definition
HDDT
Endogenous ACTH assay (bloody hard)
Ultrasound
CT scan
POST MORTEM!!! YAY!!
Term
What are some of the differneces in HAD seen in cats?
Definition
80% seen with diabetes mellitis
Similar clin path
fragile skin
Elevated sex hormones +/-
USG often >1.030
Term
What are some causes of HOD?
Definition
Bi-lateral adrenocortical atrophy (immune mediated?)
Iatrogenic
Treatment of HAD
Term
Name a process that mineral corticoids play a key role in
Definition
Maintenance of ECF by Na resorption and K secretion
ESSENTIAL FOR THE HOMEOSTASIS OF BLOOD PRESSURE
Term
What is PPID in horses?
Definition
Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction
Term
How do you test for PPID?
Definition
Test using the 20hr dex test
Term
What are some of the clinical signs of PPID?
Definition
Hirsuitims (shagginess)
Muscle wastage
PU/PD
Laminits
Metabolic syndrome
hyperglycemia
hyperlipaemia
Supporting users have an ad free experience!