Diseases and disorders of the endocrine system, such as diabetes and hypothyroidism, affect millions of Americans. The endocrine system (adrenal glands, hypothalamus, ovaries, pancreas, parathyroid, pineal gland, pituitary, testicles, and thyroid) helps regulate basic functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, energy storage, fertility, tissue growth, and overall body metabolism. Written at a level accessible to the layperson by a well-known endocrinologist and a medical writer, this authoritative volume contains more than 250 alphabetically arranged entries that range in length from a few sentences to several pages.The goal of this reference is to give a broad overview of the normal and abnormal function of the endocrine system. A useful 13-page introduction provides general information on the functioning of the endocrine system over the human life span as well as a summary of the function of each of the glands.
