Hypothyroidism occurs when there is deficient thyroid hormone secretion by the thyroid gland. It is also referred to as an underactive thyroid. This paper will discuss the function of the thyroid gland, as well as the causes, classification, risk factors, clinical features, laboratory values, diagnostic imaging, and treatment of hypothyroidism.
The thyroid gland is located anteriorly in the lower neck, just inferior to the laryngeal prominence, which is also referred to as the Adam’s apple. It extends from the fifth cervical vertebra to the first thoracic vertebra. The gland varies in shape, ranging from an ‘H’ shape to a ‘U’ shape. It is formed by two extended lateral lobes connected by a median isthmus.
The thyroid is an endocrine gland which functions to regulate metabolism in the body. Three hormones are produced: triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and calcitonin. T3 and T4 increase the basal metabolic rate in the body. These hormones also affect brain development, body temperature, breathing, cholesterol levels, heart and nervous system functions, menstrual cycles, muscle strength, skin dryness, and weight (National Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases Information Service, 2013). Calcitonin maintains calcium levels in the blood.
Thyroid hormones are produced by iodine metabolism. The thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) is produced by the pituitary gland and releases thyroid hormones into the bloodstream when necessary. TSH is regulated by the
Week 3 – LOM Assignment The thyroid is responsible for taking iodine and converting it into thyroid hormones which are released into the blood stream and transported throughout the body where they control metabolism.1 The thyroid is a vital part of the human body as every cell in the body depends on it for metabolic regulation. Too much or too little thyroid hormone secretion can result in hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism is caused when the thyroid secretes too many thyroid hormones. Hyperthyroidism causes a rapid heart rate, elevated blood pressure and tremors. Other symptoms include increased nervousness, inability to concentrate, weakness, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, frequent bowel movements, weight loss and irregular
Incidentally, there are actually two compounds made in the thyroid that are called thyroid hormone. The most abundant is T4, also known as thyroxine, which is then converted to T3, or triiodothyronine. T3 is the active form that produces the effects on metabolism.
Hyperthyroidism is a malfunction of the thyroid gland, where the thyroid produces too much thyroid hormone. The thyroid hormone is responsible for the body's use of energy, metabolic rates, and proper functioning of the organ systems (Graves disease, 2014). It is an essential hormone for homeostasis.
Thyrotoxicosis is a clinical condition caused by excess circulating serum thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3), or both with suppression of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). A negative feedback loop involving the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid gland regulates the production and release of thyroid hormones. (Fig. 1) The hypothalamus releases thyroid-releasing hormone (TRH), stimulating the pituitary gland to release TSH, in turn stimulating the thyroid gland to release T4 and T3. Enhanced production of T4 and T3
The thyroid gland is the gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism. Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help regulate growth and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Thyroid hormones also help children grow and develop. The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the neck, below the Adam's apple, wrapped around the trachea. It has the shape of a butterfly with two lobes attached to one another by a middle part called the isthmus. The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt, to make its hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine
The thyroid gland is the gland that makes and stores hormones that help regulate the heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and metabolism. Thyroid hormones are essential for the function of every cell in the body. They help regulate growth and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. Thyroid hormones also help children grow and develop. The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the neck, below the Adam's apple, wrapped around the trachea. It has the shape of a butterfly with two lobes attached to one another by a middle part called the isthmus. The thyroid uses iodine, a mineral found in some foods and in iodized salt, to make its hormones. The two most important thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine
The Thyroid Gland - The thyroid gland produces hormones which regulate the body's metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development and bone maintenance. Its correct functioning depends on having a good supply of iodine from the diet.
Thyroid Function Tests: The thyroid’s job is to make thyroid hormones, which are secreted into the blood and the carried to every tissue in the body. The major thyroid hormone secreted by the thyroid gland is thyroxine, also called T4 as it contains four iodine atoms. T4 is converted to T3 (triodothyronine) by removal of iodine atom. It occurs mainly in liver and in brain. The amount of T4 produced is controlled by another hormone which is made in the pituitary gland located at the base of brain, called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). The amount of TSH is in the blood depends on the amount of T4 that the pituitary sees. If the pituitary sees very little T4, then it produces more TSH to tell thyroid gland to produce more T4.When T4 in the bloodstream goes above a certain level, the pituitary’s production of TSH is shut off. The thyroid and pituitary act like heater and a thermostat. If it’s cold the thermostat reads the temperature and turns on the heater. Thus, the thyroid and pituitary, like heater turn on and off. T4 and T3 circulate almost entirely proteins, and when these proteins change their level in the blood, there is change in T4 and T3 levels.
The thyroid gland is found in the front of the neck and produces two main hormones. The hormones are called thuroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). Together these hormones regulate the body’s metabolism by increasing energy use in cells, regulate growth and development, help to maintain body temperature and aid in oxygen consumption. These two hormones are regulated by hormones produced by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland. The hypothalamus senses changes in body’s metabolic rate and releases a hormone known as thyropin-releasing hormone (TRH). This hormone then flows through connecting vessels to the pituitary gland which signals it to release another hormone. This hormone is known as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH then makes
Thyroid hormone production is regulated by a hormone called thyroid stimulating hormone and it is made in the brain by the pituitary gland. Since it occurs in the thyroid gland, thyroid hormones affect metabolism, brain development, body temperature, skin dryness, and it speeds up many of the body’s functions. The
The major glands of the endocrine system are the hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenals, pineal body, and the reproductive organs (ovaries and testes). The pancreas is also a part of this system. Hypothalamus gland is located in the brain. The function of the hypothalamus is to regulate production of hormones in the anterior pituitary gland. Hypothalamus produces “releasing and “inhibitory” hormones. Pituitary gland located just below the brain secretes a number of hormones. One of the hormones secreted by this gland is human growth hormone, which controls the growth of the human body. It helps control the development of the bones and muscles in the body, which explains why there are short people “dwarf” and tall people “giant”. When the body does not produce enough GH the person remains short. On the other hand, when the body produces too much GH the person becomes very tall. Thyroid gland is in the anterior neck, directly below the crioid cartilage. Thyroid gland makes a hormone called thyroxin. The function of thyroxine hormone is
A third important hormone made by the thyroid is calcitonin. This hormone activates bones cells to increase bone calcium. The pituitary gland is an endocrine gland that is located at the base of the brain and weighs less than 2 ounces. This gland signals the thyroid gland during the production of hormones by a system called TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone).
Thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are implicated in numerous process, including growth and development of muscle, bones and the central nervous system (CNS); metabolism by increasing basal metabolic rate, calorigenesis and appetite; and have cardiovascular effects due to they make the heart beats faster and harder. Deregulation of the correct function of the thyroid can lead to different pathological process such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, goiters, thyroid cancer and solitary thyroid nodules. The determination of thyroid hormones, especially FT4, together with TSH is an important element in clinical routine diagnosis. It is useful when thyroid disorders are suspected and also for the monitoring of therapy.
The thyroid is a small gland in the front of the throat. The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. It is release T3 and T4 that control metabolism - the way our body uses energy, stay warm and keep the brain, heart, muscle and other organ activity normally.
The thyroid gland is butterfly-shaped organ located in the front of the neck just above the trachea connected by an isthmus [1]. the major function of thyroid gland is the Production of the T3, T4 and calcitonin hormones. Dysfunction of thyroid gland causes the shortcoming in the production of thyroid hormones. Thyroid disorders related to dyshormonogenesis e.g. (Goiter, Thyroiditis, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, Graves ' disease, thyroid cancer, thyroid nodule, thyroid storm)[2]. For the diagnoses of thyroid disease we use chemical and radiological investigation [3], for a chemical we use the laboratory test for measuring the concentration of thyroid hormones in the circulation include total T3 and T4 hormone [4], and for the radiological exam, we use various modalities (ultrasound, CT, MRI and Nuclear Medicines). Ultrasound is the leading imaging technique for diagnosis of thyroid diseases [5][6], Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging also have a high important role for assessment the thyroid malignancy [7]. Nuclear medicine is the imaging of utilization of radioactive compounds in medicine to image and treat various human diseases. It depends on the ‘tracer principle’ that studies of the fate of compounds in vivo using small amounts of radioactive materials [8]. Nuclear medicine used to diagnose major tissues and organs of the body by using the radiopharmaceuticals.The patient is administered a radiopharmaceutical that distributes according to a