A Case of Diabetes Insipidus

By David F. Dean (rr)

Abstract

“Amanda Richards,” a 20-year-old junior in college, is majoring in biology and hopes to be a pediatrician one day. For about a month, she has been waking up frequently at night to go to the bathroom. Most recently, she has noticed that she needs to go to the bathroom during the day more often, almost hourly. Students read about these symptoms and then answer a set of directed questions designed to teach facts and principles of physiology using reference books, textbooks, the Internet, and each other as sources of information. The case has been used in a sophomore-level course in human anatomy and physiology as well as in senior-level course in general physiology.

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Date Posted

10/29/2004

Overview

Objectives

Learn about the similarities and dissimilarities between diabetes insipidus and diabetes mellitus.
Understand the basic differences between the four types of diabetes insipidus.
Be able to define and describe excessive thirst and urination in adults.
Understand the methods by which diabetes insipidus is diagnosed and treated.
Learn about other conditions which produce symptoms similar to those produced by diabetes insipidus.
Be able to describe the physiological effects of antidiuretic hormone other than the maintenance of body water balance.

Keywords

Pituitary diabetes insipidus; diabetic; antidiuretic hormone; ADH; vasopressin; osmoreceptors; osmolarity; polyuria; polydipsia; supraoptic nuclei; kidney function

Subject Headings

Medicine (General)

Physiology

EDUCATIONAL LEVEL

Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division

FORMAT

PDF

TOPICAL AREAS

N/A

LANGUAGE

English

TYPE/METHODS

Directed

Teaching Notes & Answer Key

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Answer Key

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