#hormone

• Acromegalic — Suffering from acromegaly; characterized by the excessive and disproportionate development of the body's extremities (hands, feet, facial bones, nose, jaw) due to the pathological hypersecretion of growth hormone (somatotropin) after the closure of epiphyseal plates. As a noun, it designates a male individual clinically diagnosed with this chronic neuroendocrine condition, most commonly triggered by a pituitary adenoma.
• Acromegalic woman — The feminine form of the word 'acromegal'; it describes a female individual or an anatomical structure (conformation, physiognomy, symptomatology) affected by acromegaly or characterized by the traits of this disease. In women, the progression of the condition can cause, alongside skeletal changes, severe menstrual cycle disorders and macroglossia.
• Acromegalic — A synonymous variant of the adjective acromegal; relating to acromegaly, manifesting its symptoms, or affected by the hypersecretion of somatotropin. As a noun, the term defines a male individual presenting the clinical picture of the disease, marked by hypertrophy of the facial bones, hands, and feet secondary to a pituitary adenoma.
• Acromegalic woman — The feminine form of the word 'acromegalic'; it defines a female individual or a physical manifestation affected by this neuroendocrine dysfunction. The symptomatology in women comprises, alongside facial and skeletal changes, frequent associations with secondary hypertension and voice deepening.
• Acromegaly — A chronic neuroendocrine disease caused by a pathological hypersecretion of growth hormone (somatotropin) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) in adulthood, after the closure of epiphyseal growth plates. The condition is characterized by the exaggerated enlargement of skeletal extremities (hands, feet), hypertrophy of facial bones (prognatism, prominent brow ridges), soft tissue thickening, macroglossia, and secondary severe cardiac or metabolic dysfunctions.
• ACTH — International acronym for adrenocorticotropic hormone (or corticotropin), a peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. Its primary structural role is to stimulate the production and secretion of glucocorticoid hormones (especially cortisol) by the adrenal cortex. Monitoring ACTH levels in the blood is essential for diagnosing disorders of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, such as Addison's disease or Cushing's syndrome.
• Activin — A cellular protein complex and peptide hormone belonging to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily, playing a structural role in regulating the menstrual cycle, cell proliferation, apoptosis, tissue differentiation, and the secretion of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) by the pituitary gland. This biochemical agent coordinates complex intercellular signaling networks in mammalian organisms.
• Adenohypophysis — The anterior and intermediate lobe of the hypophysis (pituitary gland), possessing an epithelial-glandular structure distinct from the neurohypophysis; it is responsible for the synthesis and secretion of most essential trophic hormones, such as growth hormone (GH), prolactin, ACTH, TSH, LH, and FSH. This structural component regulates the metabolic activity and homeostasis of the entire endocrine system through complex feedback mechanisms.
• Adrenaline — A hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla and a neurotransmitter released by the sympathetic nervous system during stress, fear, or intense physical effort; epinephrine. It acts rapidly on adrenergic receptors, causing an increased heart rate, peripheral vasoconstriction, dilation of the airways, and mobilization of glucose reserves, preparing the body for the 'fight or flight' response. Figuratively, it describes a state of intense excitement.
• Agnus-castus — The scientific and common designation for the shrub Vitex agnus-castus (commonly known as chasteberry), native to the Mediterranean region; it produces lilac flowers and small black fruits widely used in herbal medicine to balance feminine hormonal levels, alleviate premenstrual syndrome symptoms, and regulate menstrual cycles.
• Agonadism — A highly rare congenital medical condition characterized by the complete structural and functional absence of gonads (testes or ovaries), caused by an anomaly in early embryonic development; it results in a lack of sex hormones and requires life-long hormone replacement therapy.
• Aldosterone — A mineralocorticoid steroid hormone secreted by the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex, playing an essential role in regulating fluid-electrolyte balance and blood pressure. It acts upon the distal tubules of the kidneys, stimulating sodium and water reabsorption while promoting potassium and hydrogen excretion.
• Anadrenalism — An obsolete or rarely used medical term designating the absolute absence, complete failure, or cessation of adrenal gland function; it represents an extreme, acute form of primary adrenal insufficiency. This clinical phenomenon severely disrupts homeostasis by halting the secretion of essential corticosteroid hormones (colsitol and aldosterone), leading to profound hypotension, electrolyte imbalances, and imminent risk of an adrenal crisis.
• Androgen — A natural or synthetic hormonal substance (such as testosterone) that stimulates and controls the development and maintenance of male secondary sexual characteristics in vertebrates. As an adjective, it describes any factor, chemical compound, or structural physiological process that induces masculinization or exerts a direct influence on the male reproductive organs.
• Androgen therapy — A medical treatment method consisting of the therapeutic administration of androgen hormones or masculinizing compounds (such as testosterone or its derivatives). This clinical protocol is structurally used in endocrinology for correcting male hypogonadism, in gender-affirming therapies, and in managing certain oncological conditions or severe cachexia states.
• Andropause — A period of progressive physiological decline in male sexual and endocrine functions associated with aging (clinically known as late-onset hypogonadism), structurally characterized by a gradual decrease in testosterone production.
• Androsterone — A natural steroid hormone with weak androgenic activity, structurally produced during testosterone metabolism in the liver or secreted directly by the adrenal cortex and testes. This biochemical compound, historically isolated for the first time by Adolf Butenandt, acts as a chemical messenger and an essential metabolic precursor, being excreted in urine and used as a marker for overall male hormone production.
• Angiotensin — A peptide hormone with potent vasoconstrictive action, derived from a plasma precursor (angiotensinogen) through an enzymatic cascade involving renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). This well-defined structural element plays a fundamental role in regulating arterial blood pressure, stimulating aldosterone secretion by the adrenal glands, and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance in the body, while also serving as the primary target for modern antihypertensive treatments.
• Anovaria — A rare pathological condition or congenital anomaly characterized by the complete structural absence or total underdevelopment of both ovaries in an individual with a female phenotype. This severe anomaly of the reproductive system causes a drastic deficiency of sex hormones (estrogens and progesterone), leading to immediate clinical effects such as primary amenorrhea, failure to achieve puberty, and definitive sterility, requiring endocrine replacement therapy.
• Anovulation — A major menstrual dysfunction consisting of the suspension or complete absence of ovulation during a menstrual cycle. Anovulation can be physiological (before puberty, during pregnancy, lactation, or menopause) or pathological, triggered by severe hormonal imbalances, intense psychological stress, drastic weight loss, thyroid disorders, or metabolic conditions (such as hyperprolactinemia).