HghStudy Definitions

Pancreas
The pancreas is located in the abdomen, behind your stomach and in front of your spine. The pancreas is a gland that makes enzymes that help the body break down and use nutrients in food. It also produces the hormone insulin and releases it into the bloodstream to help the body control blood sugar levels. The pancreas is an organ of the digestive system.

Paresthesias
Abnormal sensations such as numbness, prickling, or pins and needles.

Pathogenesis
The origin and development of any disease condition.

Peptide
Any compound consisting of two or more amino acids in a chain, much like beaded chain bracelets, a small protein fragment. When animal meat proteins are digested, they break down first into peptides and then into their amino acid constituents.

Peptide Bond
The chemical link joining amino acids in peptides and proteins.

Peptide

"Courtesy: National Human Genome Research Institute"

Pineal Gland
Pronounced - PIN-ee-al
) A tiny cone shaped organ located near the center of the brain that produces the hormone melatonin. Also called pineal body or pineal organ or epiphysis.

Pituitary Gland
Pronounced - Puh-too-eh-ter-ee
A small, pea-sized gland that hangs from the hypothalamus, a structure at the base of the brain, by a thread-like stalk that contains both blood vessels and nerves. It controls a system of hormones in the body that regulate growth, metabolism, the stress response, and functions of the sex organs via the thyroid gland, adrenal gland, ovaries, and testes. The pituitary also makes growth hormone and endorphins, special chemicals that help provide natural pain relief from within the body.

Plaques
Patchy areas of inflammation and demyelination typical of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), plaques disrupt or block nerve signals that would normally pass through the regions affected by the plaques.

Polypeptide
A protein or part of a protein made of a chain of peptides or amino acids joined by a peptide bond. A polypeptide chain usually consists of 100 or fewer amino acids. A protein is made up of one or several polypeptide chains.

Prion Protein
Prion proteins occur in both a normal form, which is a harmless protein found in the body's cells, and in an infectious form, which causes disease. Prion is short for proteinaceous infectious particle. Prion diseases or transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are a family of rare progressive neurodegenerative disorders that affect both humans and animals. They are distinguished by long incubation periods, characteristic spongiform changes associated with neuronal loss, and a failure to induce inflammatory response. More about Prion Protein

Prognosis
Pronounced - prog-NO-sis
A prediction of the course and outcome of a disease, the chance of recovery or recurrence.

Protein
The product of the genetic information encoded in a gene. Proteins are made up of amino acids. Enzymes are one type of protein.

More Info

Human Growth Foundation
Pituitary Society
Pituitary Network Association
Important:
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