Case 10 Nicholas Mysterious Suntan 1 
Student’s Name: Marylene Mosburg Date: 11/31/2014
BIO169 Case_10: Nicholas's Mysterious Suntan
This case study presents a clinical situation related to the endocrine system. The questions at the each segment of the case will test your understanding of the endocrine system.
Nicholas T., age 32, is a busy systems analyst for a computer manufacturer. Working his way up the corporate ladder, he travels extensively, putting in many hours without much sleep. Nicholas has a tendency to be overweight but continues to eat fatty foods and does not have an exercise program. He craves salty pretzels and potato chips. ? In recent months, however, he has often felt weak, and occasionally experiences dizziness when moving from a lying down to a sitting up position. ? He has no appetite and begins to lose weight. He has frequent episodes of diarrhea. His friends notice that he looks tan even though he rarely spends time in the sun. ? His tan extends to both sun-exposed and unexposed areas. Lately, he complains about cold weather and avoids traveling to cold climates, even when such travel might benefit his career. He requests a transfer to the company office in Houston. ?
Q. What hormones are related to Na balance?
Aldosterone, ADH.
Q. What conditions might be causing dizziness and weakness? How does knowing the dizziness is related to changing position help determine the cause?
The dizziness could be cause by inner ear problems, hypovolemia, CNs problems or hypotension. The weakeness could be attributed to either an inability the usual stores of energy (fats and glucose) or to hypovolemia. The relationship between the dizziness and th change in position indicates that the problem is likely hypovolemia or hypotension.
Q. What cells in the skin are responsible for the production of tan? Melanocytes.
Q. What is hypothermia and what causes it?
Hypothermia is a dysfunction of the hypothalamus and occurs when more heat is lost than the body can generate. While
BIO169 Case_10: Nicholas's Mysterious Suntan
This case study presents a clinical situation related to the endocrine system. The questions at the each segment of the case will test your understanding of the endocrine system.
Nicholas T., age 32, is a busy systems analyst for a computer manufacturer. Working his way up the corporate ladder, he travels extensively, putting in many hours without much sleep. Nicholas has a tendency to be overweight but continues to eat fatty foods and does not have an exercise program. He craves salty pretzels and potato chips. ? In recent months, however, he has often felt weak, and occasionally experiences dizziness when moving from a lying down to a sitting up position. ? He has no appetite and begins to lose weight. He has frequent episodes of diarrhea. His friends notice that he looks tan even though he rarely spends time in the sun. ? His tan extends to both sun-exposed and unexposed areas. Lately, he complains about cold weather and avoids traveling to cold climates, even when such travel might benefit his career. He requests a transfer to the company office in Houston. ?
Q. What hormones are related to Na balance?
Aldosterone, ADH.
Q. What conditions might be causing dizziness and weakness? How does knowing the dizziness is related to changing position help determine the cause?
The dizziness could be cause by inner ear problems, hypovolemia, CNs problems or hypotension. The weakeness could be attributed to either an inability the usual stores of energy (fats and glucose) or to hypovolemia. The relationship between the dizziness and th change in position indicates that the problem is likely hypovolemia or hypotension.
Q. What cells in the skin are responsible for the production of tan? Melanocytes.
Q. What is hypothermia and what causes it?
Hypothermia is a dysfunction of the hypothalamus and occurs when more heat is lost than the body can generate. While