A clinic sees three people. Name the disorder of each, and the hormone that is the cause…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A clinic sees three people. Name the disorder of each, and the hormone that is the cause.
- A boy of twelve is far taller than every other child of his age and is still growing quickly.
- A man of forty has noticed that his jaw, hands and feet have become larger and his face has changed.
- A girl of ten is much shorter than the others. Her body is in proportion and her mind is normal.
- Which of the three has a hormone level that is too low?
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Pars distalis: GH, PRL, TSH, ACTH, LH, FSH. Pars intermedia: MSH. Pars nervosa: oxytocin and vasopressin (ADH). The kidneys filter 180 L of fluid in a day. ADH makes the distal tubules reabsorb more water, so the urine is less in volume and more concentrated.
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. (a) Too much growth hormone in a child gives gigantism.
Step 2. (b) Too much growth hormone in an adult gives acromegaly. The bones of the face, hands and feet thicken.
Step 3. (c) Too little growth hormone in a child gives pituitary dwarfism. A cretin would also have stunted growth, but with a mind that does not develop.
Step 4. (d) Only the girl, in (c).
Answer: (a) gigantism; (b) acromegaly; (c) pituitary dwarfism; (d) the girl in (c).
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