Thyroid Gland

- Dr. T. M. Desai
-Endocrine gland
- Located at roof of
the neck on either
side of trachea
- 2 Lobes – connected
by isthmus
- wt : 20 – 40 gms
- Larger in ♀ than ♂
- starts functioning in
fetal life, max activity
@ puberty
 The Thyroid Gland – Histology
Gland is composed of hollow spheres, called colloid follicles.
Squamous epithelial cells, cuboidal cells (follicle cells)

Colloid fills the follicle cavities

I
Follicle cells produce thyroglobulin ---- TH
Histology :
-Composed of large no. of follicles

- lined by cuboidal epithelium

- cavity filled with colloidal substance k/a

Thyroglobulin (for synthesis of TH) secreted by
follicular cells

- B/w follicles, Para follicular cells are present

 Hormones
T3 T4 Calcitonin
Tri-iodothyronine Tetra-iodothyronine
Thyroxine
- 10% of secretion - 90% of total secretion By PTH
Para-thyroid
- More Potent - Less Potent hormones,

- DOA- Less - Duration of Action More For Ca

metabolism &
- Less affinity - More affinity for Bones
plasma proteins
- Combines loose & - Strongly binds and
released freely released slowly

- Free form - Bound form

 Synthesis of Thyroid Hormone
Iodine + Tyrosine  Thyroid Hormone
Stages :

1) Thyroglobulin synthesis by follicular cells (GP) AA-Tyr

2) Iodine pump / Iodine trapping from blood (Na+I2 pump)
3) Oxidation of Iodide & Tyrosine + Iodine by Tyr/Perox
4) Iodination of Tyrosine to form MIT
5) Coupling reaction :
T+I  MIT
MIT + I2  DIT
DIT + MIT  T3
DIT + DIT  T4

Storage : TH remains in Thyroglobulin (10m-T4 & 1m-T3)

Only endocrine gland which stores Hormones ~ 3 months
Thyroid Hormone Synthesis
 Release of Thyroid Hormone
1) Plasma membrane of Follicular cells sends foot like
extensions called Pseudopods which encloses
Tyroglobulin – Hormone complex through receptor like
substance called Megalin
2) Pseudopods convert TG-Hormone complex 
small pinocytic vesicles
3) Lysosomes of cells fuses with vesicles
4) Lysosomes has digestive enzyme Proteinase ;
(Proteolysis) which digest TG and release the Hormone
5) Hormone diffuses through base of Follicular cells and
enters capillaries
Levels T3 T4
Rate of secretion / day 4 – 5 µg 80 – 90 µg
Normal plasma level 0. 12 µg/dl 8 µg/dl
 TH transported in blood by
3 Types of Proteins :
1. TBG – Throxine Binding Globulin

2. TBPA – Throxine Binding Pre- Albumin / Transthyretin

3. Albumin

Mode of action begins after entering peripheral tissues

( Liver, Muscle, Kidney ) T4  deiodination  T3
 Regulation of secretion TH
↑ : Low BMR, Leptin, α – MSH
↓ : Excess Iodide intake, Stress, Somatostatin, GCC, Dopamine

Role of Pituitary gland :

- TRH from Hypothalamus
- TSH secreted by Anterior Pituitary is major factor in
regulating synthesis and release of TH
- Plasma level : 2 U/ml
- MOA : cAMP

Feedback control :
Negative feedback mechanism
 Function of Thyroid Hormone
↑ Overall metabolic rate in the body
↑ Stimulate growth in child

1) ↑ BMR by ↑ O2 consumption of tissues, it is called

Calorigenic action

2) ↑ Heat production in body by ↑ BMR; it is called TH-

induced Thermogenesis (↑Thyroxin  ↑Body Temp.  ↑↑Sweating)

3) ↑ Growth of the body in children; fusion of epiphysis;

also imp in growth & development in fetal life

4) Maintains Weight of the body (↑TH → ↓Wt; ↓TH → ↑Wt)

5) ↑ Production of RBCs; imp for Erythropoiesis

6) ↑ Protein synthesis in cells :
- by ↑ Translation of RNA
- by ↑ Transcription of DNARNA
- by ↑ activity of Mitochondria
- by ↑ activity of cellular enzymes

7) ↑ CH metabolism :
- by ↑ @ of Glucose from GIT
- by ↑ Glucose uptake by cells
- by ↑ breakdown of Glycogen into Glucose
- by ↑ Gluconeogenesis

8) ↑ Fat metabolism by utilizing fat from adipose tissue (↑FA)

9) ↑ FA in blood; but ↓ Cholesterol, Phospholipids, TG levels

in Plasma; so
- ↓ Thyroxin, ↑ Cholesterol  Atherosclerosis
- ↑ Deposition of fat in liver  Fatty liver
10) ↑ Formation of enzymes by utilizing vitamins; ↑Thy↓Vtm

11) ↑ Activity of CVS :

- ↑HR; ↑Force of Contraction; ↑Blood flow (↑BMR); ↑BV
- hence, ↑Cardiac Output  ↑BP

12) ↑ Rate & Force of Respiration indirectly

( ↑BMR  ↑Demand of O2 and ↑formation of CO2 )

13) ↑Apetite & Food intake; ↑Secretion & movement of GIT

(↑TH- Diarrhea; ↓TH- Constipation)

14) Essential for development & maintenance of CNS & Sk/m

(↑TH  ↑Stimulation of CNS  ↑Hyperactivity)

15) ♂ : ↓TH - Loss of libido, ↑TH - impotence;

♀ : ↓TH - Polymenorrhea; ↑TH - Oligo/amenorrhea
 Hypothyroidism Hyperthyroidism
↓ Secretion of TH ↑ Secretion of TH

Cause : Cause :

- d/to Autoimmune Ds -TSH like substance (Ab)

- Glandular inflammation - Thyroid adenoma (Tumor)

called Thyroiditis
- Grave’s Ds (A/Imm Ds)
- Results in Fibrosis of gland TSAb produced by B-Lym

* Adults  Myxedema

* Children  Cretinism
 Hypothyroidism Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms: Symptoms:

-Cold intolerance -Heat intolerance (↑sweating)

- ↑Body wt - ↓Body wt
- ↓GIT motility- Constipation - ↑GIT motility- Diarrhea
- Menorrhagia/Polymenorrhea - Oligo/Amenorrhea
- ↓CVS: ↓HR, ↓FOC, ↓C-O/P - ↑CVS: ↑HR, A/Fib, HTN, HF
- Mental distress - ↑CNS: Anxiety, Nervousness
- Somnolence - Sleeplessness
- Anemia - Polycythemia
- Exophthalmos
Exophthalmos :
- Protrusion of eye balls

- Causes : d/to edematous swelling of retro-orbital tissues

and degenerative changes in extra-ocular muscles;
may be d/to A/imm Ds

- Leads to Blindness as eye ball stretches & damages Optic

nerve; Corneal dryness, ulcer & infection coz non-closure
of eyelids
 Myxedema Cretinism
• Edematous appearance of • Hypothyroidism in
the body children
• Cause : • Cause :
Hypothyroidism in adults d/to congenital absence
(Complete lack of TH) of T/gl; Genetic disorder;
• Symp : Lack of Iodine in diet
Swelling of face, eyes; • Symp :
Non-pitting edema (Hard), Seen weeks after birth in NB
coz Protein accumulation; (Sluggish movement, weak cry);
Atherosclerosis  HTN skeletal growth more affected
(Stunted growth wt bloated body);
Tongue is big- hangs down,
Cause obstruction in breathing
 Goiter
- Enlargement of Thyroid gland
- Occurs in both Hypo & Hyper-Thyroidism
- In Hyperthyroidism : Toxic Goiter
D/to Tumor of the gland; ↑Size of the land & ↑Hormone secretion

- In Hypothyroidism : Non-Toxic Goiter

↓Size of the gland and ↓Secretion of Hormone

1. Endemic Colloid Goiter/ Iodine Deficiency Goiter :

D/to Deficiency of Iodine (Intake<50 µg/day); hence, there is
No formation of Hormone
By Feedback mechanism - Hypothalamus & Ant/Pit. are stimulated –
↑TRH; ↑TSH  ↑ ↑ Thyroglobulin  ↑Size of the gland
2. Idiopathic Non-Toxic Goiter :
Enlargement of Thyroid gl. without Iodine deficiency (Thyroiditis)
Cause unknown; Deficiency of enzymes; Goiterogenic substance
such as Goitrin, found in cabbages, soyabean; A/Thy substance like PTU
↓Synthesis of TH  ↑TSH  ↑Size of the gland