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PBL 2 - Angelica Reyes: 1. Describe The Anatomy, Histology and Function of The Thyroid Gland and Related Structures

The thyroid gland is located in the neck and produces thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism. It has a butterfly shape with two lobes connected by an isthmus. Thyroid follicles within the gland contain cuboidal cells that secrete thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) into the follicular lumen as well as C-cells that secrete calcitonin. The hormones are produced from thyroglobulin stored in the follicular colloid through iodination and coupling reactions. When stimulated by TSH, the follicular cells endocytose colloid and cleave off T4 and T3 which are released into circulation.

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53 views

PBL 2 - Angelica Reyes: 1. Describe The Anatomy, Histology and Function of The Thyroid Gland and Related Structures

The thyroid gland is located in the neck and produces thyroid hormones that regulate metabolism. It has a butterfly shape with two lobes connected by an isthmus. Thyroid follicles within the gland contain cuboidal cells that secrete thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) into the follicular lumen as well as C-cells that secrete calcitonin. The hormones are produced from thyroglobulin stored in the follicular colloid through iodination and coupling reactions. When stimulated by TSH, the follicular cells endocytose colloid and cleave off T4 and T3 which are released into circulation.

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abdul
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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PBL 2 – Angelica Reyes

1. Describe the anatomy, histology and function of the thyroid gland and related
structures
Anatomy:
 Thyroid gland is a ductless alveolar gland found in the neck anteriorly
 Surface landmarks: laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple) – found just below it
 Butterfly-shape with two lobes which wrap around the trachea – connected centrally
by an isthmus
 Not usually palpable
 Sometimes, a third lobe known as an intermediate lobe can project from the
isthmus
 Vasculature: superior and inferior thyroid arteries
 The superior thyroid artery branches from the external carotid artery
 The inferior thyroid artery branches from the subclavian artery
 Vasculature: superior, middle and inferior thyroid veins
 Superior and middle thyroid veins drain into the internal jugular vein
 Inferior thyroid vein drains into the brachiocephalic vein
 Innervation: mostly from middle cervical ganglion
 Some innervation from superior and inferior cervical ganglia
 Has a rich lymphatic supply
 Spans from the 5th cervical vertebra to the 1st thoracic vertebra
 Gland is covered by two capsules
 True capsule – fibro-elastic connective tissue
 False capsule – pre-tracheal layer of deep cervical fascia
 There is a capillary plexus which is deeper to the true capsule

Related Structures:
 Laterally, the external carotid artery and internal jugular vein
 Anteriorly: skin, superficial and deep cervical fascia and platysma
 Posteriorly: thyroid laminae and tracheal rings
 The thyroid gland is in close proximity to two important nerves:
 External branch of superior laryngeal nerve
 Recurrent laryngeal nerve
 Recall that both are branches of the vagus nerve
 If damaged during a thyroidectomy – can lead to vocal paralysis or disability in
phonation (and a difficulty in breathing)
Structure/Histology:
 Divided into lobules by septae which dip from the capsule
 Each follicle is surrounded by thin connective tissue stroma which are rich in
fenestrated capillaries (and the sympathetic nerves which innervate them) and
lymphatics
 Thyroid lobules consist of a number of units called thyroid follicles which are the
structural and functional units of a thyroid gland
 Follicular epithelium is simple epithelium of columnar, cuboidal or squamous cells
(depends on the level of activity of the follicle)
 Active follicles appear to have cuboidal or columnar cells, but inactive follicles
appear to have squamous cells
 Follicular cells are derived from endoderm and secrete thyroid hormones
 Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)
 There are also small C cells known as parafollicular cells derived from neural crest
cells which secrete polypeptide hormone (calcitonin)
 Calcitonin is used for depositing calcium and phosphate in skeletal and other
tissues and to prevent hypercalcemia
 The thyroid follicles are storage compartments, with a lumen that is filled with a
substance called the colloid
 Colloid is composed primarily of thyroglobulin, an acidophilic secretory
glycoprotein
 Follicles are held together by a delicate network of reticular fibres with extensive
capillary beds
Thyroid Histology
Follicular Cells  Simple cuboidal epithelium
 Secrete T3 and T4
 Apically on EM, they have microvilli, abundant RER,
supranuclear Golgi complex, lysosomes, microtubules and
microfilaments
 Surround a lumen filled with colloid
Parafollicular cells  The C stands for calcitonin as these are the thyroid cells
(C-Cells) involved in calcitonin secretion
 Distributed between follicular cells and their basement
membrane (do not reach the lumen)

2. Discuss the process of thyroid hormone biosynthesis, storage and release

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