4.3: The thyroid gland Flashcards
What glands are embedded in the thyroid
Parathyroid glands
What nerve, supplying the vocal cords, runs close to the thyroid gland
Left recurrent laryngeal nerve
Embryology of the thyroid gland
Midline outpouching from floor of pharynx
Development of thyroglobulin duct
Divided into 2 lobes
Duct disappears leaving for amen caecum
Final position by week 7
Thyroid gland then develops
5 congenital anomalies of the thyroid gland
Thyroid agenesis
Lingular thyroid
Retrosternal goitre
Thyroglossal cyst
Thyroglossal fistula
Role of the isthmus
Separates 2 lobes of thyroid
What is the pyramid of the thyroid
3rd lobe of the thyroid, found in 10-30% of population
Role of parafollicular cells
Secrete calcotonin used to produce calcium
What 2 glands are important in calcium metabolism
Superior and inferior parathyroid gland
What can happen if the superior or inferior parathyroid glands are damaged during surgery
Permanent under active hypoparathyroid glands - hypoparathyroidism
Where is the thyroid hormone made
Colloid
How does the thyroid hormone enter the circulation
Via capillaries surrounding the follicles
How is thyroid hormone made within the thyroid gland
1) TSH from the blood binds to the TSH-R receptor
2) this activates the Na+/I- transporter on the basolateral membrane, stimulating active transport of iodide ions into the follicular cell
3) I- within colloid, oxidases in iodisation to form iodine
4) TSH binding also activates production of thyroglobulin
5) activates thryoperoxidase (enzyme)within cell which enters the colloid with H2O2 and catalyses iodisation reactions
6) once thyroglobulin is iodinated MIT and DIT (mono and id -iodothyrosine) are produced
7)MIT AND DIT join together to form T3 and T4
8) T3 T4 in colloid bound to thyroglobulin,
9) transported out of follicular cell by lysosome
10) T3 T4 enter circulation
What is thyroglobulin and where is it produced
Prohormone -glycoprotein which can be iodinated
Produced in the nucleus of the follicular cell
T3 is
Active form of thyroid hormone
Provides almost all thyroid hormone activity in target cells
T4 is
Tetraiodothyronine
Prohormone converted by deiodinase enzyme into more active triiodothyronine (T3)
What is the main hormone product of the thyroid gland
Thyroxine (T4)
What happens to T4 in target tissues
Deiodinated to triiodothyronine (T3) - bio active form
Deiodinated in different position to produce reverse T3 (inactive)
Proportions of circulating T3
80% from deiodination of T4
20% from direct thyroidal secretion
Half life of T4
7-9 days