Thyroid Physiology and Anatomy Flashcards
Thyroid Gland
Largest endocrine gland
Only endocrine gland which is superficial and allows palpation
Requires substances from the environment to synthesise hormone
Thyroid gland embryology
4th week of human embryogenesis
- Midline thickening at back of the tongue and stretches downwards
- Migrates in front of larynx and comes into close proximity with parathyroid glands
- Comes into contact with cells from lower part of the pharynx (become C-cells - produce calcitonin)
End of 2nd month
- 2 lobes joint at isthmus in front of trachea
- Thyroglossal duct loses contact (does not occur in 15% of population0
Week 12
- Primitive follicles become visible as simple epithelium surrounding central lumen
Thyroid Gland point of origin remnant
Point of origin in tongue persists as foramen caecum
Failure of development
Congenital hypothyroidism
Under or over migration
Lingual or retrosternal thyroid
Failure of thyroglossal duct to recess
thyroglossal cyst
Thyroid gland vertebral levels
C5, C6, C7 and T1
Secretions of. thyroid gland tissues
Thyroxine (T4)
Tri- iodothyronine (T3)
Calcitonin
parathyroid gland secretions
4 parathyroid glands
Secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH)
Thyroid gland shape
‘butterfly shape’
Thyroid gland innervation
Autonomic nerve supply
Parasympathetic
- vagus nerves
Sympathetic
- superior, middle and inferior ganglia of sympathetic trunk
Thyroid gland blood supply
Superior and inferior thyroid arteries
- branch of external carotid
Thyroid gland venous drainage
Superior/ middle thyroid vein
- drains to internal jugular
inferior thyroid vein
- drains to brachiocephalic vein
Thyroid gland support
Supported by ligaments and strap muscles
Posteromedial aspect of the gland is attached by posterior suspensory ligament (Berry ligament)
basic function unit of thyroid gland
Follicle
- colloid surrounded by follicular cells
- parafollicular cells
Richly vascularised and innervated
Control of thyroid gland
Controlled by negative feedback loop
Thyroid is controlled by TSH from the pituitary gland. (in turn regulated by TRH from hypothalamus)
T3 predominantly completes the. negative feedback loop by suppressing the production of TSH and TRH
Underactive thyroid
High TSH as compensatory
Thyroid Hormone Synthesis (6)
- Thyroglobulin synthesis (thyroxine rich protein- exclusively made by follicular cells)
- Uptake and concentration of iodide
- Oxidation of iodide to iodine.
- Iodination of thyroglobulin
- Formation of MIT and DIT
- Secretion
Synthesis and storage of T3 and T4 (4)
- Iodine taken up by follicle cells
- Iodine attached to tyrosine residues on thyroglobulin to form MIT and DIT
- Coupling of
MIT + DIT =T3
DIT + DIT = T4 - Stored in colloid thyroglobulin till required
Effect on carbimazole and Propylthiouracil on synthesis and storage of T3 and T4
Step 3 can be inhibited:
Iodine unable to attach to tyrosine residues on thyroglobulin - No formation of MIT and DIT
Used to treat hyperthyroidism