NURS 331 EXAM 1 QUESTIONS AND CORRECT
ANSWERS
3 parts of endocrine system - ANSWER glands, hormones, and target cells
How does the endocrine system respond to stimuli? - ANSWER releases hormones from
endocrine glands; target cells then read and follow the hormone's instructions,
sometimes building a protein or releasing another hormone
Hormones regulate which body functions? - ANSWER reproduction,
growth/development, homeostasis, and metabolism
General characteristics all hormones share - ANSWER 1. rates/patterns
2. use a feedback system
3. stimulate target cells with specific receptors which initiate cell function/activity
4. eliminated by kidneys or inactivated by the liver/cellular mechanisms
Hyposecretion - ANSWER -gland produces an insufficient quantity to meet the demands
of the body
- causes include congenital, neoplasms, disruption of blood flow, deficiency of an
enzyme needed for synthesis, infection/inflamm/immune response
Hypersecretion - ANSWER - over production of hormone
- causes include over-stimulation, hyperplasia of gland, or tumor of the
hormone-producing gland
Hyporesponsiveness - ANSWER cause the same set of clinical symptoms as
hyposecretion; usually caused by deficiency of receptors (Type 2 DM)
Hypothalamus Function - ANSWER regulates hormone secretion from major endocrine
,organs (not pancreas or parathyroid); primary organ concerned with homeostasis;
sends hormones to anterior or posterior pituitary
Hypothalamus synthesizes - ANSWER ADH and oxytocin
Oxytocin and ADH are produced by the __________ and stored in the __________. -
ANSWER hypothalamus; posterior pituitary
Oxytocin (OT) - ANSWER increases intensity of labor (contraction of uterine smooth
muscle)
Pitocin - ANSWER derivative of oxytocin; initiates and speeds labor as well as stimulates
contraction of milk ducts causing milk to flow into nipples
What stimulates the release of ADH? - ANSWER increased plasma osmolality sensed by
osmoreceptors in hypothalamus
ADH causes you to ___ water - ANSWER retain
Why is ADH sometimes referred to as vasopressin? - ANSWER ADH increases
peripheral resistance by vasoconstriction
How does ADH help regulate blood volume? - ANSWER acts on kidneys to absorb more
water back in the blood
SIADH - ANSWER - Patho: Inappropriate secretion of ADH=excess retention of water;
marked by oliguria with high osmolality urine yet dilution of blood with low serum
osmolality
Causes: CNS tumors, certain medications, cancers, associated with critical illness and
surgical procedures
Symptoms: cellular swelling of brain-results in confusion, seizures, coma,
,hyponatremia, thirst, edema, anorexia, altered taste, rales, weakness, and numbness
- Treatment: fluid restriction, diuretics, hypertonic IV 3% saline (for hyponatremia);
usually resolves in 2-3 days
What is the compensatory mechanism stimulated by hypervolemia? - ANSWER Release
of ANP which causes urination with concentrated sodium
Diabetes Insipidus (DI) - ANSWER -Patho: decreased ADH secretion or decreased
response to ADH = excessive water excretion as dilute urine and the retention of sodium
(blood is concentrated)
Causes: trauma to pituitary gland, brain tumors, destruction of renal tubular cells, or
pharmacologic agents Sympoms: polyuria (15L in 24hrs), thirst, nocturia, low specific
gravity of urine, hypernatremia, neuro symptoms from dehydration of cells Treatment:
Vasopressins BID as nasal spray for rest of life correct dehydration with hypotonic IV
fluid prevent clots
Vasopressin-Nursing Implications MONITOR fluid and electrolytes, water intoxication
(drowsiness, listlessness, headache)
- Assess for vasoconstrictive affects angina, HTN, gangrene
- Assess compliance-life long admin of nasal spray or tablet for enuresis
- Take daily weight and monitor I&O
Vasopressin-Answer Used to normalize urinary water excretion in pts with DI or used for
childhood enuresis; caution with CAD or PVD b/c its a strong vasoconstrictor
Anterior Pituitary secretes - ANSWER somatotropin hormones, growth hormone,
prolactin, TSH, ACTH, FSH, and Lutenizing hormone (LH)
Growth Hormone - ANSWER released from anterior pituitary in response to GHRF from
the hypothalamus; promotes protein deposits that are essential for growth; increases
mobilization of fatty acids; decreases glucose utilization and increased insulin
resistance(increase blood sugar); has no specific target organ
, Growth Hormone Deficiency - ANSWER - Causes: decreased secretion of GHRF/GH,
tumors, radiation, or trauma
- Symptoms: impairs normal growth and development in infants, children, and
adolescents
- Treatment: synthetic GH subq injections 3-7 days a week prior to closure of the growth
plate (epiphyseal plate)
Sermorelin - ANSWER medication that acts like natural GhRF; used for treatment in GH
deficiency in individuals with a functioning pituitary; height and weight and glucose
should be monitored
Types of GH Excess - ANSWER gigantism and acromegaly
Gigantism - ANSWER a condition produced by hypersecretion of growth hormone
during the early years of life; individuals will reach 7-9ft tall
Acromegaly - ANSWER - Patho: GH excess occuring in the 4th-5th decade of life with
increased bone density and width of bones enlarge; has diabetogenic effect that tends
to increase blood sugar
- Symptoms: enlarged tongue, interstsitual edema, HTN, left sided HF, course skin/body
hair, enlarged facial bones/hands/feet, profusion of jaw and forehead, barrel chest with
arthritis, nerve damage, enlarged sebaceous/sweat glands
- Treatment: remove adenoma, radiation therapy, pharmocologic
Octreotide (Sandostatin) - ANSWER synthetic somatostatin used to stop GH release
Hormones produced by the thyroid - ANSWER T3, T4, calcitonin
Many tissues in the body convert ____ to ____ - ANSWER T4 to T3 because T3 is the more
active form of thyroid hormone
ANSWERS
3 parts of endocrine system - ANSWER glands, hormones, and target cells
How does the endocrine system respond to stimuli? - ANSWER releases hormones from
endocrine glands; target cells then read and follow the hormone's instructions,
sometimes building a protein or releasing another hormone
Hormones regulate which body functions? - ANSWER reproduction,
growth/development, homeostasis, and metabolism
General characteristics all hormones share - ANSWER 1. rates/patterns
2. use a feedback system
3. stimulate target cells with specific receptors which initiate cell function/activity
4. eliminated by kidneys or inactivated by the liver/cellular mechanisms
Hyposecretion - ANSWER -gland produces an insufficient quantity to meet the demands
of the body
- causes include congenital, neoplasms, disruption of blood flow, deficiency of an
enzyme needed for synthesis, infection/inflamm/immune response
Hypersecretion - ANSWER - over production of hormone
- causes include over-stimulation, hyperplasia of gland, or tumor of the
hormone-producing gland
Hyporesponsiveness - ANSWER cause the same set of clinical symptoms as
hyposecretion; usually caused by deficiency of receptors (Type 2 DM)
Hypothalamus Function - ANSWER regulates hormone secretion from major endocrine
,organs (not pancreas or parathyroid); primary organ concerned with homeostasis;
sends hormones to anterior or posterior pituitary
Hypothalamus synthesizes - ANSWER ADH and oxytocin
Oxytocin and ADH are produced by the __________ and stored in the __________. -
ANSWER hypothalamus; posterior pituitary
Oxytocin (OT) - ANSWER increases intensity of labor (contraction of uterine smooth
muscle)
Pitocin - ANSWER derivative of oxytocin; initiates and speeds labor as well as stimulates
contraction of milk ducts causing milk to flow into nipples
What stimulates the release of ADH? - ANSWER increased plasma osmolality sensed by
osmoreceptors in hypothalamus
ADH causes you to ___ water - ANSWER retain
Why is ADH sometimes referred to as vasopressin? - ANSWER ADH increases
peripheral resistance by vasoconstriction
How does ADH help regulate blood volume? - ANSWER acts on kidneys to absorb more
water back in the blood
SIADH - ANSWER - Patho: Inappropriate secretion of ADH=excess retention of water;
marked by oliguria with high osmolality urine yet dilution of blood with low serum
osmolality
Causes: CNS tumors, certain medications, cancers, associated with critical illness and
surgical procedures
Symptoms: cellular swelling of brain-results in confusion, seizures, coma,
,hyponatremia, thirst, edema, anorexia, altered taste, rales, weakness, and numbness
- Treatment: fluid restriction, diuretics, hypertonic IV 3% saline (for hyponatremia);
usually resolves in 2-3 days
What is the compensatory mechanism stimulated by hypervolemia? - ANSWER Release
of ANP which causes urination with concentrated sodium
Diabetes Insipidus (DI) - ANSWER -Patho: decreased ADH secretion or decreased
response to ADH = excessive water excretion as dilute urine and the retention of sodium
(blood is concentrated)
Causes: trauma to pituitary gland, brain tumors, destruction of renal tubular cells, or
pharmacologic agents Sympoms: polyuria (15L in 24hrs), thirst, nocturia, low specific
gravity of urine, hypernatremia, neuro symptoms from dehydration of cells Treatment:
Vasopressins BID as nasal spray for rest of life correct dehydration with hypotonic IV
fluid prevent clots
Vasopressin-Nursing Implications MONITOR fluid and electrolytes, water intoxication
(drowsiness, listlessness, headache)
- Assess for vasoconstrictive affects angina, HTN, gangrene
- Assess compliance-life long admin of nasal spray or tablet for enuresis
- Take daily weight and monitor I&O
Vasopressin-Answer Used to normalize urinary water excretion in pts with DI or used for
childhood enuresis; caution with CAD or PVD b/c its a strong vasoconstrictor
Anterior Pituitary secretes - ANSWER somatotropin hormones, growth hormone,
prolactin, TSH, ACTH, FSH, and Lutenizing hormone (LH)
Growth Hormone - ANSWER released from anterior pituitary in response to GHRF from
the hypothalamus; promotes protein deposits that are essential for growth; increases
mobilization of fatty acids; decreases glucose utilization and increased insulin
resistance(increase blood sugar); has no specific target organ
, Growth Hormone Deficiency - ANSWER - Causes: decreased secretion of GHRF/GH,
tumors, radiation, or trauma
- Symptoms: impairs normal growth and development in infants, children, and
adolescents
- Treatment: synthetic GH subq injections 3-7 days a week prior to closure of the growth
plate (epiphyseal plate)
Sermorelin - ANSWER medication that acts like natural GhRF; used for treatment in GH
deficiency in individuals with a functioning pituitary; height and weight and glucose
should be monitored
Types of GH Excess - ANSWER gigantism and acromegaly
Gigantism - ANSWER a condition produced by hypersecretion of growth hormone
during the early years of life; individuals will reach 7-9ft tall
Acromegaly - ANSWER - Patho: GH excess occuring in the 4th-5th decade of life with
increased bone density and width of bones enlarge; has diabetogenic effect that tends
to increase blood sugar
- Symptoms: enlarged tongue, interstsitual edema, HTN, left sided HF, course skin/body
hair, enlarged facial bones/hands/feet, profusion of jaw and forehead, barrel chest with
arthritis, nerve damage, enlarged sebaceous/sweat glands
- Treatment: remove adenoma, radiation therapy, pharmocologic
Octreotide (Sandostatin) - ANSWER synthetic somatostatin used to stop GH release
Hormones produced by the thyroid - ANSWER T3, T4, calcitonin
Many tissues in the body convert ____ to ____ - ANSWER T4 to T3 because T3 is the more
active form of thyroid hormone
