Disorders of the Thyriod Gland - Anatomy and Development

17 important questions on Disorders of the Thyriod Gland - Anatomy and Development

By which part are the two lobes of the thyriod gland connected?

The isthmus

Where is the thyroid gland located in the body?

Just anterior to the trachea between the cricoid cartilage and the suprasternal notch.

What are the characteristics of a normally functioning thyroid?

  • 12-25g
  • highly vascular
  • consisting of soft tissue
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Which nerves must be identified during surgery to avoid vocal cord paralysis?

The laryngeal nerves

What is the path of development of the thyroid?

  • floor primitive pharynx
  • migration along thyroglossal duct
  • endstation anterior to the trachea

When does the thyroid starts developing?

At GA 3 weeks

Which defects are prone to developmental dysfunction?

  • ectopic thyroid cells under the tongue
  • thyroglossal duct cysts

At which GA does thyroid hormone production start?

At GA 11 weeks

What is the function of medullary C cells?

They produce calcitonin which lowers the [Ca2+]

Where are the medullary C cells most densely packed?

At the junction between the upper 1/3 and the lower 2/3 of the thyroid.

What makes the medullary C cells important cells to investigate?

They are involved in medullary thyroid cancer.

What is the prevalence of congenital  hypothyroidism?

about 1:4000 newborn, which is rather common

What are the most important transcription factors in the development of th thyroid gland?

  • TTF-1
  • TTF-2
  • PAX-8

What is the function of the transcription factors named in the chapter?

They keep track on the development and induce the expression of thyroid specific genes.

What are the thyroid specific genes?

  • thyroglobulin (Tg)
  • thyroid peroxidase (TPO)
  • sodium iodide symporter (Na+/I)
  • thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSH-R)

What does the thyroid itself consist of?

  • spheroid follicles composed of thyroid follicular cells
  • colloid made of thyroglobulin

Describe the thyroidsynthesis started by TSH binding to the basolateral receptor of the follicular thyroid cell.

  • TSH binds basolateral receptor
  • G-protein activates cAMP
  • Tg gets reabsorbed from the colloid
  • Proteolysis of Tg in the cytoplasm
  • secretion of thyroid hormones in the blood

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