Chapter 11: Endocrine System

By: Bridget Maiellaro

Medical Terms Associated with the Endocrine System Hypercalcemia:

condition of excessive calcium in the blood

Polyuria: excessive urination

hyper- = excessivecalc/o = calcium-emia = blood condition

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poly- = many -uria = urine condition

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Hypercalcemia While calcium is needed to maintain

bones, contract muscles, release hormones, and maintain proper nerve and brain function, too much calcium interferes with these areas.

Mayo Clinic states that the main cause of this condition is over-activity of the parathyroid glands. Other causes include certain cancers (e.g., breast, lung), other diseases, medications, eating or drinking too much calcium or vitamin D supplements, and dehydration.

Individuals with hypercalcemia may have few or no symptoms. More severe symptoms include nausea and vomiting, excessive thirst, and frequent urination.

Polyuria According to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S.

National Library of Medicine, “an excessive volume of urination for an adult is more than 2.5 liters of urine per day.”

Polyuria can be a symptom of disease conditions, such as diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus. Other causes may be drinking a high amount of fluids, kidney failure, medications, and sickle cell anemia.

10.5 cups 0.66 gallon84.53 ounces

2.5 liters is

equivalent to:

Sources• Medical Terminology: A Living Language, Fifth

Edition • http://

www.mayoclinic.org/endocrine-system/img-20006968

• http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hypercalcemia/basics/definition/con-20031513

• http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/parathyroid/Patient/page1

• http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003146.htm