Homeostatic Imbalance: Growth Hormone
Deficits and excess of the growth hormone may result in structural abnormalities if it goes untreated. Its hyposecretion during childhood leads to pituitary dwarfism, which means all their body proportions are normal but live as ,the maximum, 4 feet human beings. If its hypersecretion the individual results in gigantism, which means they will be extremely tall, such as 8 or 9 feet tall. If hypersecretion occurs after long bone growth, acromegaly results. This means the facial bones enlarge tremendously such as the lower jaw, bony ridges underlying the eyebrows, feet and hands.
Homeostatic Imbalance: FSH or LSH
Hyposecretion of FSH or LSH leads to sterility both in males and females. It doesn't cause any problems in general but some drugs are used to promote fertility to stimulate the release of the gonadotropic hormones and multiple births at the same time.
Homeostatic Imbalance: ADH
Hyposecretion of ADH leads to a condition of excessive urine output, diabetes insipidus. People with this problem are continually thirsty and drink lots of water!
Homeostatic Imbalance: Iodine
Without iodine, functional hormones can't be made and is our source of our diet. Without it you can develop goiters which is an enlargement of the thyroid gland.
Homeostatic Imbalance: Cretins
Hyposecretion of thyroxine may indicate problems other than iodine deficiency such as lack of stimulation by TSH. IF it occurs during childhood, it results in cretinism which is dwarfism in the head and trunk. Untreated cretins are mentally retarted. IF its found early, hormone replacement will prevent mental retardations and other signs and symptoms of the deficiency. Hypothyroidism in adults results in myxedema, which is by physical and mental sluggishness, not mental retardation. Results from a tumor of the thyroid gland. Oral thyroxine is prescribed to treat this condition. Graves' disease is a form of hyperthyroidism, which the thyroid gland enlarges and the eyes may bulge or protude anteriorly. Hyperthyroidism my be treated surgically by removal of part of the thyroid or chemically with thryoid blocking drugs or radioactive iodine which destroys thyroid cells.
Homeostatic Imbalance: Calcium levels
If blood calcium levels fall too low, neurons become extremely irritable and overactive. They deliver impulses to muscles at a rapid rate that they go into tetany, uncontrollable spasms, which can be fatal.
Homeostatic Imbalance: Adrenal cortex hormones
Hyposecretion of adrenal cortex hormones leads to Addison's disease, that's a peculiar bronze tone of the skin. With low aldosterone levels sodium and water are lost from the body and causes problems with electrolyte and water balance which then causes problems with the muscles and become weak, which shock can also be a possibility.
Homeostatic Imbalance: ACTH
Hypersecretion problems may result from an ACTH releasing tumor and the resulting condition depends on the area involved. For the outermost coritcal area is results in hyperaldosteronism which water and sodium are retained and lead to high blood pressure and edema, potassium is also being lost.
Homeostatic Imbalance: Adrenal medulla
Damage or destruction of the adrenal medulla has no major effects as long as the Sympathetic N.S neurons continue to function normally.
Hypersecretion of catecholamines leads to symptoms typical of excessive sympathetic n.s activity and a tendency to perspire and be irritable. Surgical removal of the catecholamine secreting cells corrects this condition.
Hypersecretion of catecholamines leads to symptoms typical of excessive sympathetic n.s activity and a tendency to perspire and be irritable. Surgical removal of the catecholamine secreting cells corrects this condition.
Homeostatic Imbalance: Insulin and Glucose
Without insulin, blood levels of glucose rise dramatically which causes glucose to spill into the urine because the kidney tubule cells can't reabsorb fast enough and leads to dehydration aka diabetes mellitus. Loss of body proteins leads to a decrease of fighting off infections so diabetics must be very careful with their hygiene and caring for small cuts. The cardinal signs of diabetes mellitus are
- polyria - excessive urination to flush out the glucose and ketones
- polydipsia - excessive thirst resulting from the water loss
- polyphagia - hunger due to inability to use sugars and the loss of fat and proteins from the body