Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism
Chapter 11 Disorders of carbohydrate metabolism Introduction Glucose is a major energy substrate. It typically provides more than half the total energy requirements of a typical ‘western’ diet and is…
The locomotor and nervous systems
Chapter 15 The locomotor and nervous systems Introduction It is convenient to consider these systems in the same chapter. Although the diseases that affect them may show little or no…
Plasma proteins and enzymes
Chapter 13 Plasma proteins and enzymes Introduction Proteins are present in all body fluids, but it is the proteins of the blood plasma that are examined most frequently for diagnostic…
The thyroid gland
Chapter 9 The thyroid gland Introduction The thyroid gland secretes three hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), both of which are iodinated derivatives of tyrosine (Fig. 9.1), and calcitonin, a…
The adrenal glands
Chapter 8 The adrenal glands Introduction The adrenal glands have two functionally distinct parts: the cortex and the medulla. The adrenal cortex is essential to life; it produces three classes…
The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
Chapter 7 The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland Introduction The pituitary gland consists of two parts, the anterior pituitary, or adenohypophysis, and the posterior pituitary, or neurohypophysis. Although closely related…
Clinical chemistry at the extremes of age
Chapter 21 Clinical chemistry at the extremes of age Old age The investigation and management of illness in the elderly poses a number of special problems, for both the physician…
Therapeutic drug monitoring and chemical aspects of toxicology
Chapter 19 Therapeutic drug monitoring and chemical aspects of toxicology Introduction Clinical chemistry laboratories are called upon to measure drugs in body fluids for three main purposes: • to provide…
Inherited metabolic diseases
Chapter 16 Inherited metabolic diseases Introduction Many inherited diseases are known to be due to the genetically determined absence or modification of specific proteins. For example, in sickle cell anaemia,…