MMSC 436 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS WITH VERIFIED
ANSWERS
The three levels of dysfunction that may be evaluated in a patient with an endocrine
problem are primary, secondary, and tertiary. The possible defective sites that
correspond to these primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of dysfunction are,
respective - Answers - Target gland, pituitary hypothalamus
Pituitary secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is inhibited by elevated levels
of:
a. Aldosterone
b. Cortisol
c. Estradiol-17b
d. Progesterone
e. Epinephrine - Answers - b
An example of ectopic hormone production would be:
a. Prolactin production by pituitary tumors
b. Corticotropin releasing hormone from hypothalamus
c. Growth hormone production by lung tumors
d. Growth hormone production by pituitary tumors - Answers - c
The definitive diagnosis of primary adrenal insufficiency requires demonstration of:
a. Decreased urinary 17-keto and 17-hydroxysteroids
b. Decreased cortisol production
c. Impaired response to ACTH stimulation
d. Increased urinary cortisol excretion after metyrapone (inhibitor) treatment - Answers -
c
As a screening test for Cushing's syndrome, the physician wishes to see whether a
patient exhibits normal diurnal rhythm of his cortisol secretion. At what time should the
specimens be drawn for plasma cortisol determination? (daytime work schedule)
a. 6 am, noon
b. 8 am, 2 pm
c. 8am, 6pm
d. Noon, 6pm - Answers - c
The parent substance of all steroid hormones
a. Cortisol
b. Catecholamines
c. Progesterone
d. Cholesterol
, e. Amino acids - Answers - d
Which is normally the most abundant corticosteroid hormone secreted by the adrenal
cortex?
a. Cortisol
b. Dehydroepiandrosterone
c. Aldosterone
d. Corticosterone - Answers - a
Which of the following statements regarding adrenal cortical dysfunction is true?
a. Patients with cushing syndrome usually have hyperkalemia
b. Cushing syndrome is associated with glucose intolerance
c. Addison disease is associated with hypernatremia D - Answers - b
Which of the following is the mechanism causing Cushing disease?
a. Excess secretion of pituitary ACTH
b. Adrenal adenoma
c. Treatment with corticosteroids
d. Ectopic ACTH production by tumors - Answers - a
Which of the following statements regarding the catecholamines is true?
a. They are derived from tryptophan
b. They are produced by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex
c. Plasma levels show both diurnal and pulse variation
d. They are excreted in urine primarily as free catecholamines - Answers - c
Which method is most often used to measure fractionated catecholamines (epinephrine,
norepinephrine, and dopamine)?
a. Measurement of fluorescence following oxidation by potassium ferricyanide
b. Measurement by HPLC with electrochemical detection
c. Measure of radioactivity after conversion by catechol-O-methyltransferase to tritriated
metanephrines
d. Measurement by immunoassay - Answers - b
Secretion of hormones by the anterior pituitary is controlled by circulating levels of
hormones from the target gland and hormones secreted by the - Answers -
hypothalamus
Pituitary secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is inhibited by elevated levels
of: cortisol - Answers - cortisol
A patient presents with Addison's disease. Serum sodium and potassium analyses are
done. The results would reveal - Answers - low sodium, high potassium levels
The urinary metabolite of cortisol and adrenal androgens is - Answers - 17-ketosteroid
ANSWERS
The three levels of dysfunction that may be evaluated in a patient with an endocrine
problem are primary, secondary, and tertiary. The possible defective sites that
correspond to these primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of dysfunction are,
respective - Answers - Target gland, pituitary hypothalamus
Pituitary secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is inhibited by elevated levels
of:
a. Aldosterone
b. Cortisol
c. Estradiol-17b
d. Progesterone
e. Epinephrine - Answers - b
An example of ectopic hormone production would be:
a. Prolactin production by pituitary tumors
b. Corticotropin releasing hormone from hypothalamus
c. Growth hormone production by lung tumors
d. Growth hormone production by pituitary tumors - Answers - c
The definitive diagnosis of primary adrenal insufficiency requires demonstration of:
a. Decreased urinary 17-keto and 17-hydroxysteroids
b. Decreased cortisol production
c. Impaired response to ACTH stimulation
d. Increased urinary cortisol excretion after metyrapone (inhibitor) treatment - Answers -
c
As a screening test for Cushing's syndrome, the physician wishes to see whether a
patient exhibits normal diurnal rhythm of his cortisol secretion. At what time should the
specimens be drawn for plasma cortisol determination? (daytime work schedule)
a. 6 am, noon
b. 8 am, 2 pm
c. 8am, 6pm
d. Noon, 6pm - Answers - c
The parent substance of all steroid hormones
a. Cortisol
b. Catecholamines
c. Progesterone
d. Cholesterol
, e. Amino acids - Answers - d
Which is normally the most abundant corticosteroid hormone secreted by the adrenal
cortex?
a. Cortisol
b. Dehydroepiandrosterone
c. Aldosterone
d. Corticosterone - Answers - a
Which of the following statements regarding adrenal cortical dysfunction is true?
a. Patients with cushing syndrome usually have hyperkalemia
b. Cushing syndrome is associated with glucose intolerance
c. Addison disease is associated with hypernatremia D - Answers - b
Which of the following is the mechanism causing Cushing disease?
a. Excess secretion of pituitary ACTH
b. Adrenal adenoma
c. Treatment with corticosteroids
d. Ectopic ACTH production by tumors - Answers - a
Which of the following statements regarding the catecholamines is true?
a. They are derived from tryptophan
b. They are produced by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex
c. Plasma levels show both diurnal and pulse variation
d. They are excreted in urine primarily as free catecholamines - Answers - c
Which method is most often used to measure fractionated catecholamines (epinephrine,
norepinephrine, and dopamine)?
a. Measurement of fluorescence following oxidation by potassium ferricyanide
b. Measurement by HPLC with electrochemical detection
c. Measure of radioactivity after conversion by catechol-O-methyltransferase to tritriated
metanephrines
d. Measurement by immunoassay - Answers - b
Secretion of hormones by the anterior pituitary is controlled by circulating levels of
hormones from the target gland and hormones secreted by the - Answers -
hypothalamus
Pituitary secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is inhibited by elevated levels
of: cortisol - Answers - cortisol
A patient presents with Addison's disease. Serum sodium and potassium analyses are
done. The results would reveal - Answers - low sodium, high potassium levels
The urinary metabolite of cortisol and adrenal androgens is - Answers - 17-ketosteroid
