describe the structure of the thyroid gland
2 lobes connected via the isthmus
where is the thyroid gland located
in the anterior of the neck between C5 and T1
wrapped around the cricoid cartilage and the superior rings of the trachea
describe the blood supply and drainage around the thyroid
how is the thyroid gland innervated
via the sympathetic trunk in the cervical ganglion BUT do not control secretion of hormones
why is the thyroid gland highly vascularised
it secretes hormones directly into the blood
what controls hormone release from the thyroid
the HPT axis
the anterior pituitary gland via TSH, which is stimulated by TRH from the hypothalamus
label
what are the major hormones of the thyroid
where are thyroid hormones produced
in the follicle cells which are arranged in lobules with a lumen called colloid
how do thyroid hormones take effect
via nuclear receptors in target tissues to increase metabolic rate
give examples of processes affected by thyroid hormones
describe the process of thyroid hormone synthesis
ATE ICE
which is more active?
which is more abundant?
T3 or T4
T3 is 10 times more active than T4
T4 is more abundant as it is more stable and has a longer half-life than T3.
T4 is converted into T3 at the target tissue
how is T4 converted to T3
via deiodinase
describe the HPT axis [hypothalamic-pituitary-thyoid axis]
when do the thyroid thyroid glands start producing thyroxine in utero
18-20 weeks
overall actions of the thyroid hormones
increases metabolic rate
important in brain maturation
how many parathyroid glands are there
where are they located
4
2 superior and 2 inferior
posterior lateral aspect of the thyroid glands
how are the parathyroid glands innervated
by the sympathetic trunk
this does not control hormone secretion
describe the blood supply to the parathyroid glands
the inferior thyroid artery - branch of the subclavian
drained by the thyroid plexus
what hormone does the parathyroid secrete
what does it do
parathyroid hormone
it regulates phosphate and calcium levels
what triggers release of PTH
function of calcitonin and which gland releases it
the anterior and posterior pituitary glands develop from the same tissue
T/F
False
they develop from different tissues grow next to each other then join together