Endocrinology

Endocrinology is a sub-specialty of internal medicine which deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases related to hormones.

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Endocrinology focuses on endocrine glands that secrete hormones. These glands include the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, testes and pancreas.

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The word “endocrine” is derived from Greek endo meaning “secreting internally” and krinein meaning “to separate, distinguish” (Denoting glands having an internal secretion).

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Endocrinologists are specially trained physicians who diagnose diseases related to the glands. These diseases often affect other parts of the body and symptoms are usually multiple and non-specific. While primary care doctors know a lot about the human body, for diseases and conditions directly related to glands they will usually send a patient to an endocrinologist.