1. What hormonal problem could be causing these symptoms Eric experienced from about age 11 to age 15?
A pituitary tumor or malfunction could be the cause of all of the symptoms Eric was experiencing between the ages of 11 and 15. The pituitary gland is responsible for the secretion of Growth Hormone (GH), Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH), and Luteinizing Hormone (LH) as well as other hormones. We will focus on the four hormones above because they are the cause of the symptoms Eric is experiencing.
The first hormone to address is Growth Hormone or GH. Eric shows signs of GH over-secretion from the pituitary gland. This would cause his tall, skinny stature as well as his large hands and feet. GH causes bone tissue to grow and elongate. If the bones epiphyses of the long bones have ossified, the person does not grow taller but instead the bones thicken. This explains the large feet and hands the doctor recognized in Eric.
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This hormone is released by the pituitary gland and acts on the thyroid gland controlling the release of hormones by the thyroid. If someone has low thyroid levels they can experience low energy levels and depression. These are two symptoms experienced by Eric between the ages of 11 and 15. Eric became sluggish at little league and introverted showing signs of depression. The thyroid also regulates the amount of calcium in the blood and bones via Calcitonin. If Eric had low thyroid levels his calcium regulation could be lacking causing Eric’s bones to be brittle causing him to break his hip at the age of