Thyroid Hormone

The thyroid gland is located just below the larynx, the butterfly-shaped and It represents
the largest of the pure endocrine glands, weighing between 20 and 25 grams. The thyroid
gland develops during the fourth week as a midventral endoderm development, called thyroid
diverticulum, from the pharyngeal base at the level of the second pharyngeal pouches. The
outgrowth projects inferiorly and the distinguishing development of the lateral and the
isthmus of the gland lobes.
The thyroid gland consists thyroid follicles and parafollicular cells. The thyroid follicles
is consists of numerous spherical hollow sacs, lined with a simple cuboidal epithelium and
contains colloid, a protein rich fluid and produce two hormones called thyroxine, also called
tetraiodothyronine because it has four iodine atoms, and triiodothyronine containing three
iodine atoms. While parafollicular cells secrete a calcitonin or thyrocalcitonin hormone which
serves to decrease the leves of calsium in the blood. Calcitonin can lower calcium levels in
the blood by inhibiting the action of osteoclasts. Examples when of high blood levels then
osteoclasts decrease the amount of calcium and phosphate of blood by inhibiting bone
resorption and by accelerating the taking of calcium and phosphate into an extracellular bone
matrix.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), the thyroid hormone of the anterior pituitary, is the
most important physiological regulator of thyroid hormone secretion. TSH Increases tyrosine
iodination to form thyroid hormones, increases the number of thyroid cell cells that change
from the cuboid form to the columner and increases the size and activity of the secretory cells
of the thyroid cell.
Control of Thyroid Hormone secretion by the pyrotropin release hormone (TRH) of the
hypothalamus and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary. When low
blood levels or low metabolic rates stimulate the hypothalamus to secrete TRH then TRH
enters the hypophyseal portal vein to the anterior pituitary then stimulates the thyrotroph to
secrete TSH. Then TSH stimulates almost all aspects of follicle cell activity. The thyroid
follicle cells release T3 and T4 into the blood until the metabolic rate returns to normal.
Increased T3 inhibits the release of TRH and TSH (inhibition of negative feedback).
References:
Tortora, G.J., Derrickson, B., 2012. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 13th ed.
USA: John Wiley & Sons
Sherwood, L., 2011. Fisiologi Manusia dari Sel ke Sistem. Edisi 2. Jakarta: EGC.