Chapter 16, Problem 4CAQ

Summary Introduction

Case Summary:

A 42-year-old single father, Aaron, visit physician suffering from nausea and chronic fatigue. He also shows other symptoms stress, considerable weight loss and, skin tanning, and very low blood pressure and rapid, weak pulse. Blood tests reveal absence of anemia, but low plasma glucose, cortisol, and Na⁺, and high plasma K⁺. His doctor advises an ACTH stimulation test, where after giving a synthetic form of ACTH, Aaron’s secretion of cortisol is measured.

(a) The account for Aaron’s low plasma Na⁺ and high plasma K⁺.

(b) The reason for doing an ACTH stimulation test.

(c) The gland primarily affected if ACTH does not cause a normal elevation of cortisol secretion and naming of this abnormality .

(d) The gland primarily affected if ACTH does cause an elevation of cortisol secretion.