2/24/25, 11:59 AM
LUSL4084
Endocrine Readings
- Saunders
Comprehensive
Review for
the … Nclex-Rn
Examination
about:blank 1/27
,2/24/25, 11:59 AM
Endocrine System 1
Chapters 54 – Endocrine System
Anatomy and Physiology
◻ Functions:
o Maintenance & regulation of vital organs
o Response to stress & injury
o Growth & development
o Energy metabolism
o Reproduction
o Fluid, electrolyte, acid-base balance
Hypothalamus:
◻ Portion of the diencephalon of the brain, forms the floor and part of the lateral wall of the 3rd
ventricle.
◻ Activates, controls & integrates peripheral autonomic nervous system (ANS), endocrine
processes & somatic functions like body temp, sleep & appetite.
◻ Hormones:
o corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), growth
hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH), Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH),
melanocyte-inhibiting hormone (MIH), prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH), thyrotropin-
releasing hormone (TRH)
Pituitary Gland:
◻ Master gland, located at base of the brain
◻ Influenced by hypothalamus, directly affects the function of other endocrine glands
◻ Promotes growth of body tissue, influences water absorption by kidney & controls sexual
development/function
◻ Hormones:
o Anterior Lobe: adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
growth hormone (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH), melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH),
prolactin (PRL), somatotropic growth-stimulating hormone, thyroid- stimulating hormone
(TSH)
o Posterior Lobe: produced by hypothalamus, stored & secreted to blood when needed.
Oxytocin, vasopressin, antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
about:blank 1/27
, 2/24/25, 11:59 AM
Endocrine System 2
Adrenal Gland
◻ One on top of each kidney
◻ Regulates Na+ and electrolyte balance, affects carb, fat & protein metabolism, influences
development of sexual characteristics, sustains fight or flight response.
Adrenal Cortex:
o Outer shell of adrenal gland
o Synthesizes glucocorticoids (cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone) & mineralocorticoids
(aldosterone), secretes some sex hormones (androgens & estrogens
Adrenal Medulla:
o Inner core of the gland
o Works as part of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), produced epinephrine and
norephinephrine
Thyroid Gland:
◻ Located in anterior part of neck
◻ Controls rate of metabolism & growth, produces thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and
thyrocalcitonin
Parathyroid Glands:
◻ Located on the thyroid gland, controls calcium & phosphorous metabolism, produces parathyroid hormone
Pancreas:
◻ Located posteriorly to stomach
◻ Influences carb metabolism, influences fat & protein metabolism, produces insulin & glucagon
Ovaries & Testes:
◻ Ovaries in pelvic cavity, produce estrogen & progesterone
◻ Testes in the scrotum, control development of secondary sex characteristics & produce
testosterone
Negative feedback loop regulates hormones by hypothalamus & pituitary gland. Increased amounts of target
hormones decrease secretion from the glands themselves
Diagnostic Tests:
Stimulation and Suppression Tests:
Stimulation tests:
◻ If underactivity of gland is suspected, stimulus is provided to determine if the gland is capable of
normal production
◻ Measured amounts of hormones or substances are administered to stimulate the gland
◻ Produced hormone levels are measured
◻ Failure to increase levels indicates hypofunction
Suppression tests:
◻ When hormone levels are high
◻ Agents that normally induce a suppression are administered to test negative feedback.
◻ Failure of suppression of hormone production indicates hyperfunction
about:blank 2/27
LUSL4084
Endocrine Readings
- Saunders
Comprehensive
Review for
the … Nclex-Rn
Examination
about:blank 1/27
,2/24/25, 11:59 AM
Endocrine System 1
Chapters 54 – Endocrine System
Anatomy and Physiology
◻ Functions:
o Maintenance & regulation of vital organs
o Response to stress & injury
o Growth & development
o Energy metabolism
o Reproduction
o Fluid, electrolyte, acid-base balance
Hypothalamus:
◻ Portion of the diencephalon of the brain, forms the floor and part of the lateral wall of the 3rd
ventricle.
◻ Activates, controls & integrates peripheral autonomic nervous system (ANS), endocrine
processes & somatic functions like body temp, sleep & appetite.
◻ Hormones:
o corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), growth
hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH), Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH),
melanocyte-inhibiting hormone (MIH), prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH), thyrotropin-
releasing hormone (TRH)
Pituitary Gland:
◻ Master gland, located at base of the brain
◻ Influenced by hypothalamus, directly affects the function of other endocrine glands
◻ Promotes growth of body tissue, influences water absorption by kidney & controls sexual
development/function
◻ Hormones:
o Anterior Lobe: adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH),
growth hormone (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH), melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH),
prolactin (PRL), somatotropic growth-stimulating hormone, thyroid- stimulating hormone
(TSH)
o Posterior Lobe: produced by hypothalamus, stored & secreted to blood when needed.
Oxytocin, vasopressin, antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
about:blank 1/27
, 2/24/25, 11:59 AM
Endocrine System 2
Adrenal Gland
◻ One on top of each kidney
◻ Regulates Na+ and electrolyte balance, affects carb, fat & protein metabolism, influences
development of sexual characteristics, sustains fight or flight response.
Adrenal Cortex:
o Outer shell of adrenal gland
o Synthesizes glucocorticoids (cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone) & mineralocorticoids
(aldosterone), secretes some sex hormones (androgens & estrogens
Adrenal Medulla:
o Inner core of the gland
o Works as part of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), produced epinephrine and
norephinephrine
Thyroid Gland:
◻ Located in anterior part of neck
◻ Controls rate of metabolism & growth, produces thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), and
thyrocalcitonin
Parathyroid Glands:
◻ Located on the thyroid gland, controls calcium & phosphorous metabolism, produces parathyroid hormone
Pancreas:
◻ Located posteriorly to stomach
◻ Influences carb metabolism, influences fat & protein metabolism, produces insulin & glucagon
Ovaries & Testes:
◻ Ovaries in pelvic cavity, produce estrogen & progesterone
◻ Testes in the scrotum, control development of secondary sex characteristics & produce
testosterone
Negative feedback loop regulates hormones by hypothalamus & pituitary gland. Increased amounts of target
hormones decrease secretion from the glands themselves
Diagnostic Tests:
Stimulation and Suppression Tests:
Stimulation tests:
◻ If underactivity of gland is suspected, stimulus is provided to determine if the gland is capable of
normal production
◻ Measured amounts of hormones or substances are administered to stimulate the gland
◻ Produced hormone levels are measured
◻ Failure to increase levels indicates hypofunction
Suppression tests:
◻ When hormone levels are high
◻ Agents that normally induce a suppression are administered to test negative feedback.
◻ Failure of suppression of hormone production indicates hyperfunction
about:blank 2/27
