In 1932, a physician by the name of Harvey Cushing described eight patients with central
body obesity, glucose intolerance, hypertension (high blood pressure), excess hair growth,
osteoporosis, kidney stones, menstrual irregularity, and emotional liability. It is now known
that these symptoms are the result of excess production of cortisol by the adrenal glands.
Cortisol is a powerful steroid hormone and excess cortisol has detrimental effects on many
cells throughout the body.
5. Which of the following may be one cause of Cushing’s disease?
A. a tumour in the posterior pituitary results in the overproduction of adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH)
B. a tumour in the posterior pituitary results in an underproduction of adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH)
C. a tumour in the anterior pituitary results in an underproduction of adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH)
D. a tumour in the anterior pituitary results in the overproduction of adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH)