Thyroid

Question 1

What is a thyroid?

Answer 1

A H-shaped gland located on the trachea in the neck

Question 2

What hormone is produced by the thyroid?

Answer 2

Thyroxine

Question 3

How is thyroxine made?

Answer 3

Made when the amino acid tyrosine combines with iodine

Question 4

What is the function of thyroxine?

Answer 4

Controls the rate of all the body’s reactions, i.e. it controls metabolism

Question 5

What are the symptoms of thyroxine deficiency in children ?

Answer 5

Low metabolic rates and retarded mental and physical development which is a condition called cretinism

Question 6

What are the symptoms of thyroxine deficiency in adults?

2 points

Answer 6

Myxoedema: reduced metabolic rate which is seen as tiredness, lack of energy, slow mental and physical activity and weight gain caused by the build up of fluid under the skin

Goitre: swelling of the thyroid gland

Question 7

What are the corrective measures for thyroxine deficiency?

2 points

Answer 7

‘Heel test’ is carried out on new born babies which tests for low thyroxine levels, thyroxine is then administered if necessary

Thyroxine tablets or iodine can be taken by adults to prevent myxoedema

Question 8

What are the symptoms of thyroxine excess?

Answer 8

Graves’ disease: Increased metabolic rate which causes bulging eyes, hunger, loss of weight, heat production, nervousness, irritability and anxiety

Question 9

What are the corrective measures for thyroxine excess?

Answer 9

Surgically removing part of the thyroid or by killing part of the gland using radioactive iodine

Question 10

What is the name given to the condition which causes low metabolic rates in children?

Answer 10

Cretinism

Question 11

What are the symptoms of cretinism in children?

3

Answer 11

Low metabolic rates

Retarded mental development

Retarded physical development

Question 12

What are the names of the two conditions which arise from thyroxine deficiency in adults?

Answer 12

Myxoedema

Goitre

Question 13

What are the symptoms of myxoedema?

6

Answer 13

Reduced metabolic rate

Tiredness

Lack of energy

Slow mental activity

Slow physical activity

Weight gain caused by the build up of fluid under the skin

Question 14

What causes a person with myxoedema to gain weight?

Answer 14

The weight gain is caused by the build up of fluid under the skin

Question 15

What is Goitre?

Answer 15

Swelling of the thyroid gland

Question 16

How is thyroxine deficiency treated in new born children?

Answer 16

‘Heel test’ is carried out on new born babies which tests for low thyroxine levels, thyroxine is then administered if necessary

Question 17

How is thyroxine deficiency treated in adults?

Answer 17

Thyroxine tablets or iodine can be taken by adults to prevent myxoedema

Question 18

What is the name of the conditions which arises from thyroxine excess?

Answer 18

Graves’ disease

Question 19

What are the symptoms of Grave’s disease?

8

Answer 19

Increased metabolic rate

Bulging eyes

Hunger

Loss of weight

Heat production

Nervousness

Irritability

Anxiety