PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE MEDICINE UNIT 18 THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

PROFESSIONAL ENGLISH IN USE MEDICINE

UNIT 18

THE ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

A.       Excess and deficiency

An excess – too much, or a deficiency – too little, of circulating hormones causes a wide range of medical conditiions, for example hyperthyroidism. Where there is an excess of hormone, one form of treatment consists of giving the patient something which inhibits the production of that hormone, as in the use of carbimazole to treat hyperthyroidism. When a hormone is deficient, treatment may be by replacement theraphy, for example injections of insuin in the treatment of type 1 diabetes

Doctor say: Sufferers of type 1 diabetes are deficient in insulin.

B.        Negative feedback systems

1	TRH (thyrotrophin-releasing hormone) is secreted in the hypothalamus and triggers the production of TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) in the pituitary.
2	TSH  stimulates the TSH receptor in the thyroid to increase synthesis of both T4 (thyroxine) and T3 (triiodothyronine) aand also release stored hormone, producing increased plasma levels of T4 and T3.
3	T3 feeds back on the pituitary and perhaps the hypothalamus to inhibit TRH and TSH secretion.

C.       Goitre

An enlarged thyroid gland is called a goitre. The enlargement may be diffuse – involving most of the gland, or localized – limited to a particular area, as in a solitary (single) nodule. The increased blood flow in diffuse enlargement, for example in Graves’ disease, may give rise to palpable thrill – vibration felt with the hand, and an audible bruit – noise heard through a stethoscope, over the gland.

D.      A letter of referral

Mrs David’s doctor has referred her to an endocrinologist.

 

EXERCISES

18.1.       Complete the table with words from A,B and C opposite and related forms. Put a stress mark in front of the stressed syllable in each word. The first one has been done for you.

Verb	Noun
in’hibit
produce
release
replace
	secretion
	stimulation

18.2       Complete the passage from a textbook, using the illustration and your own knowledge. Look at B opposite to help you.

Pulses of HnRH (gonadotrophin – releasing hormone) are released from the hypothalamus and 1 ________ LH and FSH 2________ from the pituitary. LH 3________ testosterone 4________ from Leydig cells of the testis. Testosterone 5________ back on the hypothalamus/pituitary to 6________ GnRH 7________. FSH 8________ the Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules to 9 ________ mature sperm and the inhibins A and B. Inhibin causes feedback on the pituitary to decrease FSH 10________.

18.3        Complete the sentences. Look at A and C opposite to help you.

1	A ________ change affects many parts of an organ gland.
2	A ________ change affects only one part.
3	His diet is ________ in iron; he doesn’t get enough iron.
4	________ T1 and T4 increase the basal metabolic rate.

18.4       Match Mrs Davis’s symptoms (1-7) with the questions her doctor asked (a-g). Look at D opposite to help you.

1	diarrhoea	a	Do you prefer hot weather or cold?
2	eating more	b	Is your weight steady?
3	heat intolerance	c	What is your appetite like?
4	overactivity	d	Are your bowels normal?
5	palpitations	e	Are you able to sit and relax?
6	weight loss	f	Do your hands shake?
7	tremor	g	Have you ever felt your heart beating rapidly or irregularly?

ANSWER KEY