The Thyroid Gland Flashcards

1
Q

Where is the thyroid gland located?

A

Around the front larynx and trachea
Below the thyroid cartilage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the name of the bridge that joins the 2 lobes of the thyroid gland?

A

Isthmus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Describe the embryological development of the Thyroid gland

A

An epithelial proliferation in the floor of the pharynx at the base of the tongue

Descends down the Thyroglossal duct and migrates downwards passing in front of the hyoid bone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What are thyroid follicles?

A

When follicular cells are arranged in spheres

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What do the thyroid follicles contain?

A

Colloid

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is colloid?

A

It’s made up of deposits of Thyroglobulin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Is colloid Intracellular or extracellular?

A

Extracellular even though it is inside the follicle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is Thyroglobulin?

A

A protein where thyroid hormone is synthesised

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are parafollicular cells and where are they found in thyroid histology?

A

Cells that produce Calcitonin which is important in calcium metabolism

They are found not producing the spheres/ thyroid follicles

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What is the only use of iodine in the body?

A

Synthesis of Thyroid hormones

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What do thyroid hormones consist of?

A

Iodinated tyrosine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What does T3 (Triiodothyronine) consist of?

A

2 tyrosines linked together with iodine at 3 positions on the aromatic rings

MONOiodotyrosin + DIiodotyrosine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What does T4 (Tetraiodothyronine) or Thyroxine consist of?

A

2 tyrosines linked together with iodine at 4 positions on the aromatic rings

DIiodotyrosine + DIiodotyrosine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Why is Thyroglobulin important in thyroid hormone synthesis?

A

It acts as a scaffold

It contains the tyrosine residues that will be iodinated
Tyrosine residues on the thyroglobulin protein get iodinate
They also then get coupled to form T3 or T4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What happens to the thyroglobulin protein that holds the coupled tyrosine residues, so T3 or T4 when the thyroid hormones need to be released?

A

It gets degraded (proteolysis)

The colloid that got taken back into the cell fuses with a lysosome which degrades thyroglobulin

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What is the key enzyme involved in the synthesis of thyroid hormones?

A

Thyroid Peroxidase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the 3 key roles of Thyroid peroxidase?

A

-Oxidation of iodide to iodine (needs H2O2)

-Addition of Iodine to tyrosine residues

-Coupling of MIT or DIT to generate T3 or T4 in the Thyroglobulin protein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What form must iodine be converted into before it can be absorbed into the body?

A

Iodide (I-)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What is an Iodine trap?

A

The sodium iodide symporter found in thyroid epithelial cells which take up iodide from the blood

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Which enzyme oxidises Iodide to iodine in the thyroid epithelial cell so it can be released into the colloid?

A

Thyroid peroxidase

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What happens to the thyroid gland in response to iodine deficiency?

A

Enlarges
Goitre

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

How are the thyroid hormones stored?

A

Within the thyroglobulin proteins

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

How does colloid containing Thyroglobulin protein with thyroid hormones stored in it enter back into the thyroid follicular cell?

A

Pinocytosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Out of T3 and T4, which one is more biologically active?

A

T3

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Which is the main thyroid hormone which is secreted?

A

T4 but T3 is more active

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is the name of the protein which T3 and T4 are transported bound to in the blood?

A

Thyroxine-binding globulin

27
Q

How is thyroid hormone secretion regulated?

A

Negative feedback

28
Q

Describe the negative feedback Regualtion of thyroid hormone secretion

A

Too much thyroid hormone stops anterior pituitary releasing TSH
Too much thyroid hormone inhibits Hypothalamus producing TRH

29
Q

What type of hormone is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone?

A

Glycoprotein

30
Q

Why are all glycoprotein hormones similar?

A

They have the same alpha subunit

31
Q

How does TSH trigger thyroid hormone release?
What does it stimulate?

A

Iodide uptake
Iodide oxidation
Thyroglobulin synthesis
Thyroglobulin iodination
Colloid pinocytosis
Proteolysis of thyroglobulin

32
Q

What are the general actions of thyroid hormone?

A

Increase Basal metabolic rate and heat production

Stimulates metabolic pathways

Sympathomimetic effects

33
Q

How does thyroid hormone stimulate the metabolic rate?

A

Increase number and size of mitochondria

Stimulate synthesis of enzymes in respiratory chain

34
Q

What metabolic pathways are generally stimulated by thyroid hormones?

A

Catabolic:
Lipolysis and B-oxidation of fatty acids

Gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis

35
Q

What is the sympathomimetic effect of thyroid hormone?

A

Increases number,of Catecholamines receptors (adrenaline) on target cells

36
Q

How does thyroid hormone specifically effect the CVS?

A

Increases hearts responsiveness to Catecholamines

Increased cardiac output = chronotropy (inc Heart rate) and inotropy (stronger contraction)

Peripheral vasodilation = more heat to body surface

37
Q

How does thyroid hormone specifically effect the nervous system?

A

Increased myelination of nerves and development of Neurons

38
Q

How do thyroid hormone receptors act when no thyroid hormone is bound?

So how does Thyroid hormone act?

A

They bind to DNA when the hormone isn’t present preventing transcription/gene expression

Regulates gene expression

39
Q

How does binding of the thyroid hormone to its receptor activate transcription?

A

Causes conformational change to the receptor so it is no longer bound to the DNA allowing it to be transcribed

40
Q

Where is the thyroid hormone receptor actually located?

A

Inside the nucleus actually on the DNA

41
Q

What is the part of DNA that has the Thyroid Hormone Receptor bound to it called?

A

Thyroid Response element

42
Q

So what is a hormone response element? (HRE)

A

A region of DNA which a hormone receptor binds/is bound to

43
Q

What is Goitre?

A

Enlargement of the thyroid gland

44
Q

When can goitre be present?

A

Hypothyroidism
Hyperthyroidism (when gland is overstimulated)

45
Q

What can cause Hypothyroidism?

A

Failure of thyroid gland
TSH or TRH deficiency
Iodine deficiency
AUTOIMMUNITY
Post surgery
Anti thyroid drugs

46
Q

What are the general symtoms of Hypothyroidism?

A

Obesity
Lethargy
Slow reflexes
Intolerance to cold
Brady cardia

47
Q

In Hypothyroidism what hormones are low and what are high?

A

Low T3 and T4
High TSH

48
Q

What condition can Hypothyroidism cause in adults?

A

Myxedema

49
Q

What are the signs of Myxedema in Adults due to Hypothyroidism?

A

Thick puffy skin (waxy swollen skin)
Muscle weakness
Slow speech
Metal deterioration
Intolerance to cold

50
Q

What is congenital hypothyroidism caused by in infants?

A

Iodine deficiency

51
Q

Signs of Congenital hypothyroidism

A

Mental deficiency
GI disturbances
Poor bone development
Slow pulse muscle weakness

52
Q

What is Hashimotos disease?

A

An Autoimmune disease which leads to the destruction of thyroid follicles causing hypothyroidism

53
Q

In Hashimotos disease, what hormone levels will be low and which hormone will be high?

A

Low T3
Low T4
High TSH

54
Q

How is Hashimotos disease treated?

A

Give oral thyroid hormone

55
Q

What are some causes of Hyperthyroidism?

A

Autoimmune Graves’ disease
Excessive T3 or T4 therapy
Drugs amiodarone
Ectopic thyroid tissue

56
Q

What are the general symptoms of Hyperthyroidism?

A

Weight loss
Irritability
Heat intolerance
Tachycardia
Increased appetite
Tremors

57
Q

What is Exophthalmos?

A

Bulging eyes

58
Q

Can some hyperthyroidisms cause Exophthalmos (bulging eyes)?

A

Yes but not all

59
Q

How does Graves Disease cause Hyperthyroidism?

A

TSI (Thyroid stimulating immunoglobulin) is produced

This binds to TSH receptors mimicking the actin of TSH stimulating Thyroid hormone production

60
Q

What hormone levels will be high and low in Graves Disease?

A

High T3
High T4
Low TSH

61
Q

What does Graves Disease cause?

A

Increased BMR
Sweating
Decrease body weight
Muscle weakness
Heart palpitations
Sometimes Exophthalmos

62
Q

What is the name of the isotope used to scan the thyroid with a gamma camera?

A

Technetium-99m

63
Q

What is the name of an Antithyroid drug and what does it do?

A

Carbimazole

Blocks formation of thyroid hormone so treats Hyperthyroidism