,PORTAGE PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
MODULE 9 EXAM STUDY GUIDE |
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS 2026
Questions 1–50: Endocrine Fundamentals & Pituitary Disorders
1. Which of the following best describes the endocrine action of a hormone?
a) Acting on the cell that produced it
b) Acting on nearby cells in the same tissue
c) Acting on distant target organs via the bloodstream
d) Acting on neurons in the synaptic cleft
Rationale: Endocrine action involves hormones being released into the blood to travel to
and act on distant target cells that have specific receptors.
2. A hormone that exerts its effects on cells adjacent to the site of release is acting
in what manner?
a) Endocrine
b) Autocrine
c) Paracrine
d) Neurocrine
Rationale: Paracrine signaling occurs when hormones act locally on nearby cells without
entering the systemic circulation.
3. A hormone that feeds back to inhibit its own further release from the gland is
an example of:
a) Positive feedback
b) Negative feedback
c) Feed-forward control
d) Biphasic control
Rationale: Most endocrine systems use negative feedback to maintain homeostasis by
reducing hormone secretion when levels are adequate.
,4. Which hormone is most commonly transported bound to a carrier protein in the
blood?
a) Epinephrine
b) Cortisol
c) Insulin
d) Growth hormone
Rationale: Steroid hormones like cortisol and thyroid hormones require carrier proteins for
transport due to their lipophilic nature.
5. The master gland of the endocrine system is the:
a) Thyroid
b) Adrenal
c) Pituitary
d) Pancreas
Rationale: The pituitary gland, under hypothalamic control, regulates many other
endocrine glands.
6. Hyposecretion of growth hormone in children leads to:
a) Gigantism
b) Acromegaly
c) Pituitary dwarfism
d) Cushing syndrome
Rationale: Insufficient growth hormone during childhood results in proportionate short
stature known as pituitary dwarfism.
7. Hypersecretion of growth hormone before epiphyseal plate closure causes:
a) Gigantism
b) Acromegaly
c) Dwarfism
d) Myxedema
Rationale: Excess GH in children stimulates excessive linear bone growth, resulting in
gigantism.
8. Acromegaly is most often caused by:
a) GH deficiency
b) GH-secreting pituitary adenoma
c) Thyroid hormone excess
d) Cortisol deficiency
Rationale: Acromegaly is typically due to a benign tumor of the pituitary that secretes
excess GH after growth plates have fused.
, 9. Which of the following is a classic feature of acromegaly?
a) Short stature
b) Enlarged hands and feet
c) Decreased head size
d) Hypotension
Rationale: Acromegaly causes bony and soft tissue overgrowth, particularly of the hands,
feet, and facial bones.
10. Diabetes insipidus is caused by a deficiency of:
a) Insulin
b) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
c) Aldosterone
d) Cortisol
Rationale: ADH (vasopressin) deficiency or resistance leads to impaired water
reabsorption, causing polyuria and polydipsia.
11. The primary symptom of diabetes insipidus is:
a) Hyperglycemia
b) Excessive thirst and large volumes of dilute urine
c) Weight gain
d) Hypertension
Rationale: Lack of ADH causes the kidneys to excrete large amounts of dilute urine,
leading to severe thirst (polydipsia).
12. Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) is characterized by:
a) Polyuria
b) Water retention and hyponatremia
c) Hypernatremia
d) Dehydration
Rationale: Excess ADH causes water reabsorption, leading to diluted serum sodium
(hyponatremia) and fluid overload.
13. Which lab finding is expected in a patient with SIADH?
a) Elevated serum sodium
b) Low serum osmolality
c) High serum potassium
d) High blood glucose
Rationale: Water retention dilutes plasma, resulting in low serum osmolality and low
sodium.
MODULE 9 EXAM STUDY GUIDE |
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM QUESTIONS &
ANSWERS 2026
Questions 1–50: Endocrine Fundamentals & Pituitary Disorders
1. Which of the following best describes the endocrine action of a hormone?
a) Acting on the cell that produced it
b) Acting on nearby cells in the same tissue
c) Acting on distant target organs via the bloodstream
d) Acting on neurons in the synaptic cleft
Rationale: Endocrine action involves hormones being released into the blood to travel to
and act on distant target cells that have specific receptors.
2. A hormone that exerts its effects on cells adjacent to the site of release is acting
in what manner?
a) Endocrine
b) Autocrine
c) Paracrine
d) Neurocrine
Rationale: Paracrine signaling occurs when hormones act locally on nearby cells without
entering the systemic circulation.
3. A hormone that feeds back to inhibit its own further release from the gland is
an example of:
a) Positive feedback
b) Negative feedback
c) Feed-forward control
d) Biphasic control
Rationale: Most endocrine systems use negative feedback to maintain homeostasis by
reducing hormone secretion when levels are adequate.
,4. Which hormone is most commonly transported bound to a carrier protein in the
blood?
a) Epinephrine
b) Cortisol
c) Insulin
d) Growth hormone
Rationale: Steroid hormones like cortisol and thyroid hormones require carrier proteins for
transport due to their lipophilic nature.
5. The master gland of the endocrine system is the:
a) Thyroid
b) Adrenal
c) Pituitary
d) Pancreas
Rationale: The pituitary gland, under hypothalamic control, regulates many other
endocrine glands.
6. Hyposecretion of growth hormone in children leads to:
a) Gigantism
b) Acromegaly
c) Pituitary dwarfism
d) Cushing syndrome
Rationale: Insufficient growth hormone during childhood results in proportionate short
stature known as pituitary dwarfism.
7. Hypersecretion of growth hormone before epiphyseal plate closure causes:
a) Gigantism
b) Acromegaly
c) Dwarfism
d) Myxedema
Rationale: Excess GH in children stimulates excessive linear bone growth, resulting in
gigantism.
8. Acromegaly is most often caused by:
a) GH deficiency
b) GH-secreting pituitary adenoma
c) Thyroid hormone excess
d) Cortisol deficiency
Rationale: Acromegaly is typically due to a benign tumor of the pituitary that secretes
excess GH after growth plates have fused.
, 9. Which of the following is a classic feature of acromegaly?
a) Short stature
b) Enlarged hands and feet
c) Decreased head size
d) Hypotension
Rationale: Acromegaly causes bony and soft tissue overgrowth, particularly of the hands,
feet, and facial bones.
10. Diabetes insipidus is caused by a deficiency of:
a) Insulin
b) Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
c) Aldosterone
d) Cortisol
Rationale: ADH (vasopressin) deficiency or resistance leads to impaired water
reabsorption, causing polyuria and polydipsia.
11. The primary symptom of diabetes insipidus is:
a) Hyperglycemia
b) Excessive thirst and large volumes of dilute urine
c) Weight gain
d) Hypertension
Rationale: Lack of ADH causes the kidneys to excrete large amounts of dilute urine,
leading to severe thirst (polydipsia).
12. Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone (SIADH) is characterized by:
a) Polyuria
b) Water retention and hyponatremia
c) Hypernatremia
d) Dehydration
Rationale: Excess ADH causes water reabsorption, leading to diluted serum sodium
(hyponatremia) and fluid overload.
13. Which lab finding is expected in a patient with SIADH?
a) Elevated serum sodium
b) Low serum osmolality
c) High serum potassium
d) High blood glucose
Rationale: Water retention dilutes plasma, resulting in low serum osmolality and low
sodium.
