Dr. Mario decided to take a walk around the Smash Mansion on a nice day. He has been working too hard and deserved a break. He went into the living room and saw the kids, Ness, Young Link, Nana, and Popo, watching cartoons.
"Do you think that Jerry's basal metabolic rate is higher or lower than Tom's?" asked Popo.
"It's lower because he's just a mouse! Tom's is higher because he's larger than Jerry," said Young Link. "…I think," he added.
Dr. Mario shook his head because he couldn't believe what he heard! The kids knew something about the endocrine system!
"A-hem! Good afternoon, children!" greeted Dr. Mario. He sat down with them and saw a character show surprise with their eyes enlarged in a comical fashion.
"What do you think that character is suffering from?" asked Dr. Mario.
"Exophthalmos!" they answered in unison.
"Exactly!" He saw the same character consume a chili pepper by accident and it began to drink excessive amounts of water to stop the burning.
"Ha ha! Look! Tom has polydipsia!" laughed Nana.
"No, no. He should be thirsty for a long period of time to have it," said Ness.
The kids snickered and Young Link had a Cheshire cat grin on his face.
"Dr. Mario! We know someone suffering from polyphagia!" said Young Link.
"Or two…"
"Or three!"
"They're not suffering from it; they're enjoying every minute of it!" laughed Ness. The others joined in. Dr. Mario shook his head in disbelief.
"Dr. Mario… I've heard the phrase 'raging hormones' and I'm wondering…" began Popo.
Uh-oh! Should I tell them in the short kiddie version or in the long medical version? Dr. Mario thought to himself.
"Since hormones have specific regulatory effects on specific organs, which hormones control Marth's temper so that he rages about everything?" Popo had a grin on his face and the others tried to hold back their snickering.
Dr. Mario fell over in complete shock. "No! That's what the phrase doesn't mean!" He rubbed his temples and shook his head. "Ay, I need a cup of coffee…"
"You always drink coffee! You might get polyuria from too much liquids!" said Nana.
"And all the caffeine'll make you hyper like if you had hypoglycemia!" said Young Link.
"'Hypo' means 'under'. You're thinking 'hyper'. Besides, hyperglycemia doesn't make you all hyper and crazy," said Ness.
"Rats, I thought that's what Roy had…"
"But he does have one condition," said Ness.
"POLYPHAGIA!" the kids laughed out loud.
"Guys, when Popo mentioned the phrase 'raging hormones', I figured that I tell you this," said Dr. Mario. The kids stopped and listened. "This is about the period when secondary—"
"Just spit it out!" said Nana.
"It's about when people enter puberty—"
All the kids ran off screaming in fear. Dr. Mario was left alone…finally.
Basal Metabolic Rate: minimal energy expended for respiration, circulation, peristalsis, muscle tone, body temperature, and glandular activity of the body at rest.
Endocrine: glands that secrete internally into blood or lymph.
Exophthalmos: abnormal protrusion of eyeball.
Polydipsia: excessive thirst persisting for long periods of time.
Polyphagia: excessive hunger
Hormone: chemical substance produced in the body that has specific regulatory effect on the activity of a specific organ.
Polyuria: passage of a large volume of urine in a given time.
Hypoglycemia: abnormally low sugar content in the blood.
Hyperglycemia: abnormally high sugar content in the blood.
Puberty: period during which the secondary sexual characteristics begin to develop and the capability of sexual reproduction is attained.
