Thyroid Gland

Question 1

What hormones does the thyroid gland secrete?

Answer 1

Thyroxine (T4)
Triiodothyronine (T3)
Calcitonin

Question 2

What is a goiter?

Answer 2

Enlarged thyroid gland that results from hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism

Question 3

What is an endemic goiter, what does it result from?

Answer 3

Iodine deficiency -> decrease in T3 and T4 secretion -> compensatory mechanism leads to increase TSH secretion from anterior pituitary -> results in hyperplasia and hypertrophy of thyroid gland (due to excess stimulation)

Question 4

What is a toxic goiter?

Answer 4

No toxins are present, but is due to hyperactivity of the thyroid gland and excess amounts of t3 and t4 is present

Question 5

What is hyperthyroidism a result from?

Answer 5

Mostly autoimmunity

Question 6

What is the most common form of hyperthyroidism?

Answer 6

Graves

Question 7

Who does Graves’ disease most commonly affect?

Answer 7

Young women

Question 8

What are the hallmark presentations of graves?

Answer 8

Goiter, hyperthyroidism, exopthalmus

Question 9

What is the patho of Graves’ disease?

Answer 9

Autoimmunity targets TSH receptors on thyroid cells

TS Antibodies mimic TSH and bind to TSH receptor -> increase in t3 t4 secretion

Question 10

What is thyroidtoxicosis (thyroid storm)?

Answer 10

It is the clinical presentation of hyperthyroidism and results from hyperthyroidism being untreated

Question 11

What does the thyroid gland regulate?

Answer 11

Regulates metabolism, growth and development

Question 12

What occurs during thyroidtoxicosis?

Answer 12

Lipid and protein catabolism
Increased metb heat -> compensatory mechanisms (flushed skin, perspiration) -> compensatory mechanisms max out -> intolerance to inc heat

Question 13

What are manifestations of thyroidtoxicosis?

Answer 13

Excitable
Irritable
Insomnia
Anxiety

Question 14

What happens to the cardiovascular system during theyroidtoxicosis and why?

Answer 14

Increase CO and HR meet increase o2 demands for waste removal

Question 15

What does the respiratory system do when thyroidtoxicosis sets in?

Answer 15

Hyperventilation to expel co2

Question 16

What is the treatment for thyroidtoxicosis?

Answer 16

1 of 3 options:
Anti thyroid drugs - suppress TH production
Radioiodine therapy - administer radioactive iodine binds to thyroid gland and emits radiation locally to destroy cells
Surgery for large goiters (can lead to hypothyroidism)

Question 17

What are the three levels that hypothyroidism can occur at?

Answer 17

Thyroid (primary)
Pituitary (secondary)
Hypothalamus (tertiary)

Question 18

In hypothyroidism, what level is it most common to have issues at?

Answer 18

The primary level, level of the thyroid

Question 19

What is the main etiology of hypothyroidism? What occurs as a result?

Answer 19

Mainly due to radiation and surgery for hyperfx (istrogenic)

Question 20

What are problems that result from hypothyroidism? (5)

Answer 20

Dec body temp
Dec co
Dec CNS fx
Weak muscle (due to dec ATP)
Increased weight due to dec basal metabolic rate

Question 21

Why does the thyroid gland atrophy in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?

Answer 21

TSH receptors blocked and can’t be stimulated

Question 22

Tx for Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?

Answer 22

T4 daily

But if endemic goiter - iodine to treat deficiency

Question 23

Characteristics of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?

Answer 23

Autoimmune destruction of gland where antibodies act as a TSH receptor antagonist