Thyroid Flashcards
Describe the blood supply to the thyroid
superior and inferior thyroid arteries
superior middle and inferior thyroid veins
Describe lymphatic drainage around the thyroid
upper and lower deep cervical lymph node
pre-tracheal and paratracheal lymph node
What two nerves are in close proximity to the thyroid?
recurrent laryngeal nerve
external motor branch of the superior laryngeal nerve
How much does the thyroid weigh?
20g
Describe the structure of the thyroid
two lobes joined by isthmus
What does the isthmus border?
cricoid cartiledge
What is the thyroid gland innervated by?
adrenergic and cholinergic nervous systems
What is the purpose of the thyroid?
takes absorbed exogenous idodide (iodine is reduced to iodide in the gut) into the gland and synthesizes 2 thyroid hormones
What are the two hormones of the thyroid
triiodothyronine (T3)
thyroxine (t4)
What does thyroid hormone production depend on?
availability of exogenous iodine (i2)
Describe thyroid hormone production
iodine is reduced to iodide (I-) in the GI tract absorbed into the blood stream and then is actively transported from the plasma into the thyroid follicular cells
iodide gets trapped inside the follicular cell and gets compounded with tyrosine and thyroglobulin and yields monoiodotryosine and diiodotyrosine
then they are coupled into T3 and T4
Where are T3 and T4 stored til needed and released into circulation?
colloid
What are the 7 roles of thyroid hormone?
regulates carbohydrate, lipid, protein metabolism
necessary for fetal development
CNS development and activity
bone and tissue growth
gastrointestinal regulation
cardiac myocytes (contractility)
vascular smooth muscle (direct vasodilation)
What are the interactions between thyroid hormone that allow release?
hypothalamic-pituitary axis
thyroid gland
thyroid hrormones
What is the role of the hypothalamus in the regulation of thyroid function?
controls the release of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
What is the role of the pituitary gland in thyroid function?
TRH stimulates the secretion of thyroid secreting hormone (TSH) form the anterior pituitary
What is the role of the thyroid gland in thyroid function?
TSH acts on the thyroid gland to enhance synthesis and secretion of T4 and T3
What exists between the hypothalamus, pituitary, and the thyroid gland?
classic feedback loop
Describe the negative feedback loop of thyroid function
increase levels of thyroid hormone INHIBIT secretion of TSH from the pituitary
What are the primary determinant of TSH secretion?
thyroid hormone levels
What is the composition of thyroid stimulating hormone?
211 amino acids
2 subunits
What is the function of thyroid stimulating hormone?
controls production of thyroid hormones T4 adn T3
stimulates all aspects of thyroid hormone production
What specific roles of thyroid hormone production is stimulated with TSH?
uptake of iodide
iodide incorporation
eventual release of T4 and T3
In hypothyroidism, TSH will be
elevated
In hyperthyroidism, TSH will be
decreased
Which thyroid hormone is more active?
T3
3-4x more active then T4
What is the half life of T3?
1-3 days
How much is T3 bound to albumin?
99.7%
T3 is synthesized in the thyroid gland, but also formed in the
liver and kidneys by peripheral conversion of T4 by selenodeiodinases
How much is thyroxine synthesized and released by the thyroid gland?
90%
what is the serum half life of T4
6-7 days (1 week)
What % is t4 bound to thyroid binding globulin?
99.9%
How do T3 and T4 circulate the blood stream?
circulate tightly protein bound
Which hormone is more tightly bound?
t4
leads to the longer 1/2 life
Which hormone has a larger amount circulating in the blood stream?
t3
0.4 vs 0.04%
What state of the thyroid hormone drives the patient’s metabolic state?
free form and active
When performing thyroid test, what is important to look at?
clinical picture and laboratory tests
What are principle thyroid function tests?
TSH
serum T4
serum T3
radioactive iodine uptake
What occurs to thyroid tests with aging?
increase in baseline TSH
What is a normal range of T4?
4.5-12ug/dL
What is a normal range of T3?
90-200mcg/dL
What is a normal range of TSH?
0.4-4.5ug/dL
What is a normal range of free t4?
0.7-1.6mg/dL
What is a normal range of free t3?
230-420mg/L
What is a normal range of RAIU?
8-35% at 24hour
What is subclinical hyperthyroidism diagnosis?
TSH level of 0.1-0.4mu/L with normal levels of free T3 and free T4
What is overt hyperthyroidism diagnosis?
TSH below 0.03mu/L with elevated T3/T4
What is subclinical hypothyroidism diagnosis?
TSH level of 5-10mu/L with normal levels of T3 adn T4
What is overt hypothyroidism diagnosis?
TSH level higher than 20 mu/L with reduced levels of T3 and T4
How do you diagnosis pituitary dysfunction?
Thyrotropin releasing hormone test
What occurs when TRH is administered with second hypothyroidism?
does not produce an increase in TSH
How can you test for pituitary dysfunction?
injection of exogenous TRH by rapid IV push
serum concentration of TSH is collected at 15 and 30 minute intervals over 2-3 hours
normally TSH would rise in concentration
What is a life threatening emergency in hyperthyroidism?
thyroid storm
Thyrotoxicosis
clinical syndrome caused by increased thyroid hormone levels, regardless of cause
Hyperthyroidism
syndrome caused by an intrinsic abnormality of the thyroid, but the two terms are used interchangeably