week 4, lecture 2 Flashcards
what does the thyroid develop from in embryo?
Originates from the endodermal lining of the primitive pharynx
where does the thyroid develop at (embryo)
- The thyroid begins to develop as a pit at the base of the tongue in the midline (Foramen Cecum)
- Begins as a small endodermal thickening in the floor of the pharynx, near the base of the tongue.
- foramen cecum, between the 1st and 2nd pharyngeal pouches in the 3rd week
- Here is when the the thyroid diverticulum forms, which descends through the neck.
- The thyroid descends from the foramen cecum (at the tongue base) via the thyroglossal duct.
what week in embryo does the thyroid reach its final position in front of the trachea
7th week
what is the thyroid composed of
Thyroid develops into two lateral lobes connected by an isthmus.
what is the thyroglossal duct
- Temporary duct that connects the developing thyroid to the tongue.
- Normally, the duct disappears by the 10th week
- In some, the pyramidal lobe is an extension fo the duct
- but remnants of it can lead to thyroglossal duct cysts.
- 7% of the population has this. A Midline swelling can possibly be apparent
by the 7th week in embryo what happens
- the thyroid gland is in its final anatomical position.
- Anterior to the trachea and Below the larynx
what does the thyroid consist of
- Two lateral lobes * Isthmus
what does the thyroid look like
- Shaped kind of like a butterfly, the isthmus usually lies below the cricoid cartilage
▪ Right and left lobes, connected via the Isthmus
▪ In some individuals, a pyramidal lobe extends superiorly from the isthmus (remnant of the thyroglossal duct)
arterial supply for thyroid
- Superior thyroid artery (branch of external carotid artery). * Inferior thyroid artery (branch of subclavian artery).
venous drainage of thyroid
- Superior thyroid vein.
- Middle thyroid vein.
- Inferior thyroid vein
All drain into the SVC (superior vena cava) via the brachiocephalic trunk
what is a cricothyrotomy?
Cricothyrotomy is a “famous” urgent airway procedure
- Locate the junction of the cricoid and the thyroid cartilage
- Small incision provides quick and pretty save access to the trachea
- The thyroid is extraordinarily vascular – if one slices indiscriminately in this area, hemorrhages happen
what is the capsule of the thyroid
- The thyroid gland is enclosed by a thin fibrous capsule.
- This capsule serves both as a protective layer and as an anchor for the gland to nearby neck structures.
- The capsule is not just superficial—it sends septa (thin partitions) deep into the thyroid, dividing the gland into smaller lobules.
- This internal structure helps compartmentalize the tissue for efficient blood flow and hormone production.
- The capsule is also firmly attached to the cricoid cartilage and the upper part of the trachea
- The thyroid moves up and down when you swallow, a key clinical sign used during physical examination of the gland.
what is the thyroid made up of
thyroid follicles
The functional units responsible for hormone production.
A follicle is a spherical structure, typically surrounded by a single layer of cuboidal epithelial cells (known as follicular cells or thyrocytes).
what are thyroid follicles filled with
colloid (fluid) that contains pro hormone thyroglobulin
what are follicular cells responsible at synthesizing
synthesizing and secreting thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) via enzymes
what is in the parafollicular area
Between the follicles, in the interstitial spaces, are clusters of parafollicular cells (also called C cells).
what are parafollicular cells responsible for
These cells are responsible for producing calcitonin, a hormone that helps regulate calcium levels by inhibiting bone resorption when calcium levels are high
what do parafollicular/ c cells produce? and why?
calcitonin
regulate calcium levels (inhibit bone resorption when calcium levels are high)
calcitonin is not directly involved in metabolic processes but plays a role in calcium homeostasis.
what happens to the follicular cells when they are inactive vs active
- Inactive: flat cells, lots of colloid
- Active: cells become cuboidal or columnar as they take up the colloid via “reabsorption lacunae”
- Fenestrated capillaries
what are the main ingredients to make thyroid homrone
tyrosine and iodine
what is produced in a high amount but less active and what is produced in low amounts but is more active ; t3 or t4
t4: * High amount is produced, but it is less active
t3: * Very little is produced, but it is VERY active
how can t4 be converted into t3
- Can be converted into T3 in the periphery by deiodination
(removal of iodine)
what is reverse t3
- Produced in the periphery; small amount; activity unclear
what are thyroid hormones the derivative of
tyrosine
- Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) are derivatives of the amino acid tyrosine.
- Tyrosine is an aromatic amino acid that forms the backbone of the thyroid hormones.
amino acid to make thyroid hormones
tyrosine
what are thyroid hormones made of
The production of thyroid hormones involves the coupling of two tyrosine molecules that undergo a series of modifications, particularly iodination.
what is the structure of tyrosine? what are the carbon positions where it can get iodinated?
- Each tyrosine molecule has an aromatic ring structure with carbon atoms at positions 1 through 6.
- For thyroid hormone synthesis, iodination occurs specifically at the 3- and 5-carbon positions on the ring.
what is iodination
Iodination refers to the process where iodine atoms are added to these carbon positions.
what is monoiodotyrosine (MIT)
A tyrosine molecule with one iodine at the 3-carbon.
what is diiodotyrosine DIT
A tyrosine molecule with two iodines, at both the 3- and 5-carbons.
what is T3 made of (i.e. DIT or MIT)
Formed when one MIT combines with one DIT, resulting in a molecule with three iodine atoms.
what is T4 made of (i.e DIT or MIT)
Formed when two DIT molecules combine, creating a molecule with four iodine atoms.
t3 vs t4 for DIT and MIT
t3= dit and mit
t4 = 2 dit
where does the coupling process of adding mit and dit to make t3 and t4 happen
takes place within the colloid of the thyroid follicles.
what is thyroid hormone derived from
- Two tyrosine molecules “stuck” together with variable levels of iodination on the 3- and 5-carbon of aromatic ring
what are tyrosine initially part of
a larger protein known as thyroglobulin
what is thyroglobulin
- Thyroglobulin is a large glycoprotein that acts as a precursor and scaffold for thyroid hormone synthesis.
- It is a large protein, containing about 2750 amino acids, and is synthesized and secreted by follicular cells into the colloid of the thyroid follicles.
how many tyrosine residues in thyroglobulin; how many can be used
123
4-8
- Within the thyroglobulin protein, there are 123 tyrosine residues available.
- However, not all of these residues are used for hormone synthesis.
- Only 4-8 tyrosine residues within thyroglobulin are actually iodinated and incorporated into the final thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).
- These specific tyrosine residues are selectively iodinated, and the iodinated tyrosine pairs are linked together to form T3 and T4.
where is thyroglubin made and stored?
Synthesis and Storage: Thyroglobulin is produced in the follicular cells and secreted into the colloid, where the tyrosine residues undergo iodination and coupling to form hormone precursors.
why is thyroglobulin endocytose
Endocytosis and Proteolysis: When thyroid hormones are needed, the thyroglobulin is taken back into the follicular cells via endocytosis.
where is thyroglubin released itno
Release: Inside the follicular cells, enzymes cleave the thyroglobulin, releasing the active hormones (T3 and T4) into the bloodstream.
overview of formation and secretion of thyroid hormone
- Iodide absorption and transport
- Iodide uptake by the follicular cells + thyroglobulin synthesis (not “connected”)
- Transport of thyroglobulin and iodide into the follicle (not “connected”)
- Iodination of tyrosine residues on thyroglobulin
- Endocytosis of thyroglobulin (now with iodinated thyronine residues on it)
- Lysosomal destruction of endocytosed thyoroglobulin release of thyroid hormone into the cytosol
- Thyroid hormone enters the circulation and is carried to peripheral tissues via transport proteins
what symporter helps bring iodide from the diet into the follicular cell
a significant proportion of the iodide in the diet is absorbed into the follicular cell from the circulation by a very high-affinity sodium-iodide symporter
where is iodide mostly secreted to
- Iodide is mostly secreted into the urinary system, some into bile
how does iodide circulate
- As thyroid hormone is metabolized, iodide is liberated and circulates
where is iodine absorbed
small intestine
where is iodine stored/ used
Thyroid (for thyroid hormone production)
Up to 2 months supply Kidneys (excreted in urine)
Secondary locations: salivary glands, gastric mucosa, placenta, ciliary body of eye, choroid plexus, mammary glands (physiological role of iodine in these tissues is unclear)
how is iodine excreted
Liver metabolizes thyroid hormones and releases some iodine into bile attached to the metabolites (some is reabsorbed)
80% is excreted via kidneys
how is iodide absorbed and transported
- Dietary iodide is rapidly absorbed through the gastrointestinal (GI) tract into the bloodstream.
- Most dietary iodide comes from sources like iodized salt, seafood, and dairy products.
- Once in the bloodstream, iodide is transported to the thyroid gland, where it is actively concentrated for thyroid hormone synthesis.
how is iodide uptake by follicular cells
Na/I cotransporter (NIS)
sodium iodide symporter
where is the sodium iodide symporter located?
- Located on the basolateral membrane of the thyroid follicular cells (the side facing the blood).
- The NIS (also known as SLC5A5) is a specialized Na+/I− cotransporter responsible for actively transporting iodide from the blood into the follicular cells.
which way does the iodine and sodium go in the Na/I symporter (NIS)
- The NIS moves two Na+ ions and one iodide ion (I−) simultaneously into the cell.
where is iodide concentration highest (in blood or cell)? hint- active transport occurs
- Iodide transport by the NIS occurs against its electrochemical gradient, meaning iodide is moved into the cell even though its concentration inside the follicular cell is already higher than in the blood.
what energy is needed to actively transport iodide into the cell
- The energy for this process is provided by the sodium gradient, which is maintained by the Na+/K+ ATPasepump located on the basolateral membrane.
Sodium gradient:
* The Na+/K+ ATPase pumps sodium ions out of the follicular cell in exchange for potassium ions.
* This creates a low intracellular Na+ concentration, which drives the movement of Na+ into the cell along with iodide.
once iodide gets into the follicular cell how does it get into the lumen
Cl-/I- exchanger AKA pendrin
Once inside the follicular cell, iodide needs to be transported into the lumen of the thyroid follicle (colloid), where it will be used for hormone synthesis.
what is the purpose of pendrin
- Iodide is transported across the apical membrane (the side facing the follicular lumen) by the Cl−/I− exchanger, known as pendrin.
- Pendrin moves iodide (I−) into the follicle in exchange for chloride (Cl−) ions.
pendrin: Cl-/I- exchanger
- Pendrin is a protein located on the apical surface of the follicular cell, responsible for secreting iodide into the follicle lumen.
- Pendrin (SLC26A4) exchanges one chloride ion (Cl−) for one iodide ion (I−), allowing iodide to leave the cell and enter the colloid where it is used for thyroid hormone synthesis.
pendred syndrome (mutations in pendrin) symptoms
-goiter
-hearing loss
-Impaired iodide transport can lead to hypothyroidism or compensatory goiter, as the thyroid enlarges in an attempt to capture more iodide.
pendred syndrome
- Caused by mutations in the SLC26A4 gene, which encodes the pendrin protein.
where is thyroglobulin made? what groups does it contain? and how is it made into t3 and t4?
- Thyroglobulin (TG) is a glycoprotein synthesized by the follicular cells of the thyroid gland.
- It contains the tyrosyl groups (tyrosine residues) that will be iodinated to form thyroid hormones (T3 and T4).
- It contains 123 tyrosine residues, but only 4-8 of these will be used to form the thyroid hormones.
where is thyroglobulin synthesized and where is it packaged? how is it transported to then get exocytosed?
- TG is synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and packaged in the Golgi apparatus of the follicular cell.
- It is transported in secretory vesicles that carry it to the apical membrane, where it is exocytosed into the follicle lumen (colloid).