lecture 27 - thyroid, parathyroid & adrenal galnds Flashcards
What hormones are secreted by the thyroid gland?
Thyroid hormone (T3, T4) and calcitonin
What is the location of the thyroid gland?
On anterior and lateral surfaces of the trachea, inferior to the larynx
What is the structure of the thyroid gland?
Composed of small spherical sacs (follicles) surrounded by follicular cells. Clear/C cells lie in clusters between follicles
What is the function of the follicular cells of the thyroid?
Synthesis and storage of thyroid hormones
Where is the hormone calcitonin made?
In the Clear/C cells of the thyroid gland.
What type of cell are follicular cells?
Epithelial cells
What type of hormone are thyroid hormones?
Lipid-soluble hormones
How are thyroid hormones T3 and T4 made?
Iodine enters follicular cells and forms complexes with tyrosine from thyroglobulin proteins (TGB) made in the thyroid follicles.
What is the structure of T3 hormone?
3 iodine (I) surrounding a tyrosine (Y)
What is the structure of a T4 hormone?
4 iodine (I) surrounding a tyrosine (Y)
How are thyroid hormones stored, despite being lipid soluble?
T3 and T4 are bound to thyroglobulin (TGB) in follicle cells until they need to be released, when they detach.
What is the active thyroid hormone?
T3
What is the more plentiful thyroid hormone?
T4
How do T3 and T4 travel via the bloodstream to target cells?
Bound to carrier proteins called thyroid-binding globulin (TBG)
What does TGB stand for?
Thyroglobulin
What does TBG stand for?
thyroid-binding globulin
What are the basic steps of thyroid hormone target cell activation?
Hormone travels bound to carrier protein to cell, diffuses across membrane, T3 binds to T3 receptor on mitochondria or in nucleus, complex binds to DNA and genes are activated, transcripted and translated to produce specific proteins.
What is a common protein produced in target cells in response to activation by T3 thyroid hormone?
Sodium-potassium pump
What is the response time of target cells to thyroid hormone?
4 minutes to several days
What is thyroid hormone required for?
Growth, alertness and metabolism
What are the effects of thyroid hormone on metabolism?
increased: body heat production, fatty acid oxidation, proteolysis, carbohydrate metabolism.
How does thyroid hormone increase body heat production?
Increases the consumption of oxygen, and ATP hydrolysis
What is fatty acid oxidation, in terms of metabolism?
Use of stored fat in many tissues
What is proteolysis, in terms of metabolism?
Breaking down proteins into amino acids by proteolytic enzymes, predominantly in muscle
Does thyroid hormone increase or decrease blood sugar concentration?
Neither - the glucose released by carbohydrate metabolism is used straight away by cells which have advanced uptake.
What two processes, involving glucose, are increased by the thyroid hormone?
Gluconeogenesis (synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrates) and glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen into glucose)