T1 L7 Thyroid hormones and physiology Flashcards
Describe the tissue of the thyroid gland
Composed of follicles consisting of monolayer of epithelial cells enclosing a large core of viscous homogenous colloid
What does the colloid do?
Thyroid hormones are stored here
What are the 3 primary hormones secreted by the thyroid gland?
T3
T4
Calcitonin
What does T3 stand for?
Triiodothyronine
What does T4 stand for?
Tetraiodothyronine
What is calcitonin involved in?
Calcium homeostasis
Secreted independently of other thyroid hormones
Where does iodine come from?
The diet
Vegetables and meat providing the animals have been fed on vegetables containing iodine
What can affect thyroid function?
Pollution
Contamination
Iodine deficiency
Iron deficiency
What degrades MIT & DIT to free the iodide?
Halogenases
What happens when T3 and T4 leave the follicular cells?
Enter blood stream and are distributed to target tissues
What percentage of thyroid hormone leaving the thyroid gland is T4?
95%
Why can’t we be certain that T3 and T4 inhibit TRH release in humans?
We can’t measure TRH in humans
What happens if you are iodine deficient?
1) Thyroid hormone decreases
2) Lose negative feedback
3) Increased TSH
4) Enlarged thyroid gland
How are thyroid hormones carried round the body?
Bound to plasma proteins and transported in the blood
Describe the binding of T4
75% to thyronine-binding globulin (TBG)
15-20% to thyroxine
5-10% to albumin