A Case of Diabetes Insipidus

Author:	David F. Dean Department of Biology Spring Hill College ddean@shc.edu
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.
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 antidiuertic 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
Topical Area:	N/A
Educational Level:	Undergraduate lower division, Undergraduate upper division
Formats:	PDF
Type/Method:	Directed
Language:	English
Subject Headings:	Physiology Medicine (General)
Date Posted:	10/29/04
Date Modified:	N/A
Copyright:	Copyright held by the National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science, University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Please see our usage guidelines, which outline our policy concerning permissible reproduction of this work.

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