acromegaly

(noun)

A chronic disease marked by enlargement of the bones of the extremities, face, and jaw that is caused by over-activity of the pituitary gland.

Related Terms

  • pituitary gigantism
  • growth hormone deficiency

Examples of acromegaly in the following topics:

  • Hormonal Abnormalities and Height

    • This expansion causes the headaches and visual disturbances that often accompany acromegaly.
    • When these non-pituitary tumors are surgically removed, GH levels fall and the symptoms of acromegaly improve.
    • If it occurs after the closure of the epiphyses (i.e., in adults), then acromegaly ensues.
    • Teeth showing classic teeth gapping due to acromegaly on the mandible.
    • This image depicts the facial aspect of a patient with acromegaly.
  • Pituitary Gland Disorders

    • The distinction between gigantism (occurring in children) and acromegaly (occurring in adults) can be made by the occurrence of the adenoma in relation to the closure of the epiphyses.
    • If it occurs after the closure of the epiphyses (i.e., in adults) then acromegaly ensues.
  • Hypertension

    • Hypertension can also be caused by endocrine conditions, such as Cushing's syndrome, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism and acromegaly.
Subjects
  • Accounting
  • Algebra
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Calculus
  • Chemistry
  • Communications
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Microbiology
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • U.S. History
  • World History
  • Writing

Except where noted, content and user contributions on this site are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 with attribution required.