6 Questions
What is the typical size of the thyroid gland?
2-3cm across
Which of the following arteries supplies blood to the thyroid gland?
External carotid artery
What is the primary mechanism by which the levels of thyroid hormone are controlled in the body?
Negative feedback loop
What is the primary function of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the body?
To increase iodine uptake and subsequent release of T3 and T4
What is the primary function of thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG) in the body?
To transport thyroid hormone in the blood
What is the response of the hypothalamus to decreased peripheral thyroid hormone levels?
It produces TRH
Study Notes
Thyroid Gland Anatomy
- Located anterior to the trachea and inferior to the larynx
- Shaped like a butterfly (bow-tie) with two lateral lobes joined by a central isthmus
- Typically 2-3cm across and weighs around 15-20g
- Highly vascularized, receiving blood from superior and inferior thyroid arteries
- Drained via superior, middle, and inferior thyroid veins
Thyroid Hormone Regulation
- Regulated through the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis
- Decreased peripheral thyroid hormone levels stimulate the hypothalamus to produce thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH)
- TRH stimulates the anterior pituitary to produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- TSH increases iodine uptake and release of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in the thyroid gland
- Circulating thyroid hormone levels are controlled through negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary
Thyroid Hormone Transportation
- T3 and T4 are hydrophobic molecules transported in the blood reversibly bound to carrier proteins
- Carrier proteins include thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG), transthyretin (TTR, or prealbumin), and albumin
- Only a small amount of T3 and T4 is free and unbound in the blood
Learn about the anatomy of the thyroid gland, including its location and structure, and how thyroid hormones are regulated through the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.
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