Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

Goiter is an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, most commonly caused by iodine deficiency. The thyroid gland requires iodine to synthesize its hormones (T3 and T4). When iodine is deficient, the thyroid enlarges in an attempt to trap more iodine from the blood. Other causes include Graves' disease (autoimmune) and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. The pancreas (insulin/glucagon), pituitary (growth hormone, ACTH, etc.), and adrenal glands (cortisol, adrenaline) are not directly involved in goiter.

Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) have been observed in Systemic lupus erythematosus, which is an autoimmune disease.

Hypersecretion of thyroid hormones in human results in exophthalmic goitre.

Metabolic malfunctioning is caused when chemical processes in the body do not function properly. Stones in kidneys or gall bladder are caused due to metabolic malfunctioning.

Excessive intake of fats makes pancreas and liver inactive. 

Cretinism is caused by severe thyroid hormone deficiency during infancy and early childhood, leading to stunted physical and mental growth. Myxoedema occurs in adults with hypothyroidism. Goitre is thyroid enlargement. Gigantism results from excess growth hormone. The key is 'very early stage of infancy'.

Insufficient dietary iodine causes the thyroid gland to enlarge (goitre) as it tries to capture more iodine from the blood to produce thyroid hormones. Cretinism results from iodine deficiency during fetal development. Gigantism is caused by excess growth hormone. The thyroid responds to iodine deficiency by enlarging.

It is caused by shortage of insulin.

An overproduction of somatotropin before adolescence, causes gigantism.

Hypothyroidism during the adult years causes myxedema. Myxedema is the swelling of the skin and underlying tissues giving a waxy consistency, typical of patients with underactive thyroid glands.

Cretinism is a clinical condition which is associated with hyposecretion of certain hormones during the growing years; these hormones are thyroid hormones.

Diabetes insipidus is caused by deficiency of ADH (antidiuretic hormone) or vasopressin, which is produced in the hypothalamus and stored/released by the posterior pituitary gland. The anterior pituitary produces different hormones (GH, TSH, ACTH, FSH, LH, prolactin).

Cretinism results from severe hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone deficiency) during early infancy, causing stunted growth and intellectual disability. Gigantism is from excess GH in childhood. Myxoedema is hypothyroidism in adults. Goitre is thyroid enlargement (can be from deficiency or excess).

In animal cells, peroxisomes are involved in synthesis of plasmalogen.

Hashimotos thyroiditis is due to TSH stimulation-blocking antibody, which blocks activation of TSH hormone and subsequently bring damage and atrophy of thyroid gland.