Thyroid and Parathyroid

Question 1

What is the foramen cecum? What can occur through this area?

Answer 1

• Foramen cecum, opening at the base of the tongue through which the thyroid travelled during development.
• This path the thyroid followed can develop cysts known as thyroglossal cysts

Question 2

What is the pyramidal lobe?

Answer 2

A lobe in the thyroid that is frequently but not always present

Question 3

Which two arteries primarily supply the thyroid gland?

Answer 3

1) Superior thyroid artery

2) Inferior thyroid artery

Question 4

Which hormones regulate thyroid hormone release?

Answer 4

1) Thyrotropin releasing factor (hypothalamus) stimulates release of TSH
2) Thyroid stimulating hormone (pituitary), also called thyrotropin

Question 5

What are signs of hyperthyroidism?

Answer 5

• Nervousness, diaphoresis, heat intolerance
• Tachycardia, palpitations, fatigue
• Weight loss
• Fine hair
• Nodular thyroid or goiter
• Exophthalmos

Question 6

What laboratory findings would you expect with hyperthyroidism?

Answer 6

• Suppressed TSH

- Elevated T3, free T4, and radioactive iodine uptake

Question 7

What is the T3 suppression test?

Answer 7

Pt is given exogenous T3 and their uptake of radioactive iodine is measured. Pts who are hyperthyroid will still have high uptake despite higher levels of T3

Question 8

What is the thyrotropin releasing hormone test?

Answer 8

Administration of TRH, in hyperthyroid patients the TSH levels will fail to rise after exogenous TRH is administered