Endocrinology Definition
Endocrinology involves the diverse system of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. These hormones bring about responses in other cells of the body. These responses include triggering the "fight-or-flight" reaction, providing the optimum use of glucose and glycogen, and even regulating the metabolism of each and every body cell.
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Definition
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Endocrinology is the study of the endocrine system---the system of glands in the body that produce hormones. Included in the endocrine system are the islets of Langerhans, the adrenal glands and the thyroid. Physicians who specialize in this field of medicine are called endocrinologists.
Endocrine System Glands
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The glands of the endocrine system are: the pituitary and hypothalamus glands, located in the brain; the thyroid and parathyroid glands, located in the lower throat; the pancreas (islets of Langerhans), located in the abdomen; the ovaries, located in the lower abdomen; the testes, located in the groin; and the adrenal glands, located atop each kidney.
Interaction
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The pituitary gland secretes hormones that control the other endocrine glands in the body to a varying extent. The hypothalamus gland secretes hormones that controls the pituitary gland.
Pituitary hormones are minimally involved in the processes of the isles of Langerhans, but pituitary hormones are greatly involved in the control of thyroid hormone release.
Endocrinologists
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Doctors who specialize in the practice of endocrinology attend medical school for four years, then three to four years in internship and residency programs, where they practice in more broad fields of medicine, such as pediatrics or internal medicine. After completion of this portion of their education, two to three years are spent learning to diagnose and treat endocrine-system disorders.
While some endocrinologists treat all conditions related to the endocrine system, others focus their practice on a specific one or more areas.
Endocrine Surgeons
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Endocrine surgeons are those surgeons who specialize in surgical treatment of endocrine disorders. To become a member of the American Association of Endocrine Surgeons and board-certified as an endocrine surgeon, a surgeon must have completed at least 100 endocrine surgeries and devoted a substantial portion of her medical practice to endocrine disorders.
While endocrinologists may be found in a variety of settings, endocrine surgeons are likely to be found in major hospitals, university medical centers and other medical- service facilities where there would be enough clients to support such a specialized field.
Endocrine disorders
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Diabetes mellitus is a disorder of the endocrine system, a condition that 16 million Americans have, but many are yet undiagnosed, according to Endocrine Web. Diabetes is classified into one of two types, depending on the cause of the condition. Type 1 diabetes results from an insulin deficiency in the body; type II diabetes results from the development of insulin resistance in the body.
Disorders of the thyroid gland include goiters, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. A goiter is an enlargement of the thyroid gland, which in some cases must be surgically removed because the enlarged tissue pushes on the trachea and esophagus, causing breathing and swallowing difficulties.
Hyperthyroidism is the presence of too much thyroid hormone, which increases cellular metabolism throughout the body. Hypothyrodism is the lack of enough circulating thyroid hormone.
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