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What
is Endocrinology? |
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University
Hospitals of
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Department
of Diabetes & Endocrinology Leicester Royal
Infirmary, |
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Endocrinology is study of the control of hormones in the body, and disorders of these hormones and the
glands which control them. Hormones are substances which are made in hormone glands within the body and secreted into the blood stream where
they travel to have effects on many other organs and tissues within the body.
Hormones are an essential part of the control of the body’s metabolism, the
body’s response to stress and illness and of growth and development. Hormone
glands include the thyroid gland,
adrenal gland, pituitary gland, parathyroid gland and the ovaries (in women)
and testicles or testes (in men). The Clinical
Specialty of Endocrinology deals with diseases and disorders of these
hormone glands. Disorders often cause under-production or over-production of
the relevant hormones, and may sometimes involve enlargement of the gland
(mostly by a benign growth and rarely by a cancer of these organs) which may
be noticed by the patient or their doctor or found incidentally on scans
performed for other reasons. The most common endocrine disorders include an
overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism or thyrotoxicosis),
an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), thyroid
enlargement and polycystic ovary syndrome. Other conditions seen regularly in
our clinic include pituitary disorders, calcium problems and adrenal
deficiency, but there are a large number of endocrine problems which may be
seen in our clinic. |