Thyroid Hormone Physiology Flashcards
What is the largest endocrine specific gland?
- thyroid gland
What is the main function of the thyroid gland?
- regulate basal metabolic rate
The thyroid is located below which important structure in the trachea and either side of what cartilaginous area?
- larynx
- cricoid cartilage
Label the key parts of the thyroid gland using the labels below:
- right thyroid lobe
- left thyroid lobe
- isthmus
1 - right thyroid lobe
2 - left thyroid lobe
3 - isthmus (connects left and right lobes)
What 2 muscles cover the thyroid gland?
1 - strap muscles
2 - sternocleidomastoid
What important chemical that must be consumed in the diet is required for thyroid hormone production?
- iodine
- recommended 150ug/day
- contained within seafood, dairy products, seaweed, iodized salt, prunes, potatoes, lima beans
The thyroid is not a uniform structure, rather it is composed of follicles. Each follicle is composed of which type of epithelial cells?
- cuboidal epithelial cells
The thyroid is not a uniform structure, rather it is composed of follicles. Each follicle is composed of cuboidal epithelial cells. What is the name of the area contained within the follicles that is surrounded by cuboidal epithelial cells?
- colloid
The thyroid contains C cells. What do these cells secrete?
- calcitonin
- regulate plasma calcium levels
Label the cross section of the thyroid gland using the labels below:
follicle RBCs capillary C cells colloid cuboidal epithelial cells
1 - follicle 2 - capillary 3 - C cell 4 - cuboidal epithelial cell 5 - RBCs 6 - colloid
Dietary iodine is ingested in food as I2 but is absorbed as what?
- iodide
Which fascia is the thyroid gland enclosed by?
- pretracheal fascia
In development the thyroid gland develops from the floor of what?
- pharynx
- near the root of the tongue
Colloid is a substance that is contained within the follicles of the thyroid gland. What is the colloid substance composed of?
- rich in thyroglobulin
- thyroglobulin is a large (660 kDa) tyrosine rich dimeric glycoprotein
Colloid is a substance that is contained within the follicles of the thyroid gland. The colloid substance is rich in thyroglobulin, a large (660 kDa) tyrosine rich dimeric glycoprotein. The thyroglobulin is produced by which 2 key organelles of the follicular cuboidal epithelial cells?
- rough endoplasmic reticulum
- golgi
Thyroglobulin, the precursor for thyroid hormones and contains between 10-20 thyroid molecules that can be used to form thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). How is T4 and T3 formed from thyroglobulin?
- iodine is bound to tyrosine residues of the thyroglobulin
- iodine and tyrosine are then cleaved from the thyroglobulin forming T1 and T2
- T1 and T2 can the be combined to create T4 and T3
The thyroid secretes thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). What % of T3 and T4 are secreted?
- triiodothyronine (T3) =7%
- thyroxine (T4) = 93%
Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) referred to as T3 and T4, why are they referred to as T3 and T4?
- T refers to tyrosine
- number relates to number of iodine molecules they have bound to tyrosine
- T3 = 3 iodine molecules
- T4 = 4 iodine molecules
Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) are referred to as T3 and T4 because the T relates t tyrosine amino acid and the number relates to the number of iodine molecules bound to the tyrosine (T3 = 3 iodine molecules and T4 = 4 iodine molecules). Does T3 or T4 have a longer half life?
- T4 has a longer half life
- T4 can be converted into T3 within cells