Content Writer
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is responsible for regulating the production of thyroid hormones. It also regulates the production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine with the help of the thyroid gland. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is abbreviated as TSH.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is a pituitary hormone that controls the metabolism rate of tissue in the body.
- It is also popular with the term thyrotropin, thyrotropic hormone.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is produced by thyrotrope cells.
- The cells are located in the anterior pituitary gland.
- Anterior pituitary gland regulates the functioning of the thyroid.
- The thyroid gland is located at the base of the neck.
- The gland is in the shape of a butterfly.
- Secretion of thyroid hormone should be adequate; otherwise, it can lead to various types of abnormalities.
Read More: Reproductive Health
Key Terms: Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Thyroid gland, Hypothyroidism, Hyperthyroidism, Hormone, Thyroxine, Triiodothyronine, Pituitary Gland, Tissue
What is Thyroid Stimulating Hormone?
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, or TSH, secreted by the thyroid gland, regulates the production of thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The thyroid gland is situated in the neck.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone binds to the receptors present in the cells in the thyroid gland.
- The pituitary gland helps in the release of hormones into the bloodstream.
- The conversion of 80% of hormones takes place in the liver.
- TSH reaches their maximum value during periods of rapid growth and development.
- A thyrotropin-releasing hormone produced by the hypothalamus produces the required TSH.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is divided into two subunits, namely alpha and beta subunits.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
Read More: Slash and Burn Agriculture
Regulation of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, or TSH, is responsible for the maintenance of the body's metabolic activities. If the level of the hormones produced are very high, then the production of thyroid-stimulating hormone stops. They usually create a negative effect on the pituitary gland.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone causes the cessation of production of thyrotropin hormone.
- Thyrotropin stimulates the pituitary gland to produce TSH.
- If the level of hormones produced is less, then individuals also suffer from pituitary disease.
- The concentration of TSH shifts toward higher concentrations with age.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone also gets disturbed by the amount of stress an individual faces in life.
Thyroid Stimulating Hormone
Read More: Endangered Species
Hypothyroidism
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Hypothyroidism is caused by a high level of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone. A moderate level of TSH is good, but if a person has a TSH level more than normal, it indicates that he has an underactive thyroid gland.
- Due to hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones.
- This leads to enlargement of the thyroid gland, leading to goitre.
- The person who suffers from hypothyroidism may feel lethargic cold and put on weight.
- This is also responsible for the reduced metabolic rate.
- In the initial stage, the condition may not be prominent.
- If left untreated, it can lead to several health issues like joint pain, obesity, infertility and even heart disease.
Read More: Autotrophic Nutrition
Causes of Hypothyroidism
Various causes can be attributed to hypothyroidism, but the most important are two.
- Inflammation of Thyroid Gland: It leads to damage to a large number of thyroid cells, and hence, they are unable to produce the hormones.
- Medical Treatments: It involves surgical removal of the entire thyroid gland that disturbs the cells that are responsible for the secretion of TSH, hence leading to the condition.
Symptoms of Hypothyroidism
Some of the symptoms of hypothyroidism are as follows:
- Easily fatigueness
- Weight gain
- The person becomes sensitive to cold.
- Dry skin
- Swollen or puffy face
- Muscle weakness
- Slow down heart rate.
- High blood cholesterol level
- Hair thinning
- Thyroid gland enlarges
- Stiffness and muscle ache.
Read More: Inbreeding Depression
Hyperthyroidism
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Hyperthyroidism is caused by a low level of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone.This condition indicates that the thyroid gland is hyperactive and is producing high levels of hormones.
- Hyperthyroidism is generally the reverse of hypothyroidism.
- Patients suffering from hyperthyroidism tend to lose weight, experience anxiety and feel very hot.
- The patients usually have slightly enlarged thyroid gland than the normal.
- Medications are provided by the doctor to control the increased and decreased level of TSH.
- If left untreated, it might turn serious.
- The symptoms of this disease become more apparent when the level of hyperthyroidism in the body increases that result in the increase in the metabolic rate.
Read More: Blood
Causes of Hyperthyroidism
Few causes of hyperthyroidism are:
- Increased level of the thyroid hormone
- Grave’s disease
- High level secretion of TSH
- Increases iodine intake
- Thyroiditis
- Toxic multinodular goiter
Read More: Excretion
Symptoms of Hyperthyroidism
Symptoms generally vary as the signs are generally not visible if the condition is mild in patients. However, most of the symptoms are associated with the increase in the activity of metabolism. Some of the symptoms of Hyperthyroidism are as follows:
- The neck swells as the thyroid gland enlarges
- Nervousness, Irritability and fluctuation in mood
- Diarrhea
- The weakness of muscle
- Difficulty in the sleeping
- Excessive sweating
- Over Sensitive to heat
- Frequent urination and increased bowel movement
- Menstrual problem in women
- Alopecia
- Heartbeat increases.
Read More: Genetic Engineering
Things to Remember
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is secreted by the thyroid gland.
- It regulates the production of thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
- The condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone is referred to as Hypothyroidism.
- Hyperthyroidism indicates that the thyroid gland is hyperactive and is producing high levels of hormones.
- Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is responsible for the maintenance of the body's metabolic activities.
- They usually create a negative effect on the pituitary gland.
Read More: Biotechnology
Sample Questions
Ques. What is thyroid stimulating hormone? (2 marks)
Ans. Thyroid stimulating hormone, or TSH, secreted by the thyroid gland, regulates the production of thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The thyroid gland is situated in the neck, and it resembles the shape of a butterfly. It then binds to the receptors present in the cells in the thyroid gland and regulates the production of hormones.
Ques. List the various functions performed by thyroid stimulating hormone? (2 marks)
Ans. Thyroid stimulating hormone stimulates the synthesis as well as secretion of thyroid hormones from the thyroid glands. The function of thyroid hormones can be listed as:
- It stimulates and controls the rate of metabolic activity
- It helps in the regulation of oxygen in various body parts
- Regulate the growth and development
- Enhances blood flow to many organs
- It develops the brain and maintains bones
Ques. What is Hyperthyroidism? (3 marks)
Ans. Hyperthyroidism indicates that the thyroid gland is hyperactive and produces high levels of hormones. This condition is generally the reverse of hypothyroidism. Patients suffering from hyperthyroidism tend to lose weight, experience anxiety and feel very hot. The patients usually have slightly enlarged thyroid glands than normal. The symptoms of this disease become more apparent when the level of hyperthyroidism in the body increases, which result in an increase in the metabolic rate.
Ques. List the symptoms that a person suffering from Hyperthyroidism shows? (3 marks)
Ans. The symptoms that a person suffering from hyperthyroidism shows are:
- The neck swells as the thyroid gland enlarges
- Nervousness, Irritability and fluctuation in mood
- Diarrhea
- The weakness of muscle
- Difficulty in sleeping
- Excessive sweating
- Over Sensitive to heat
- Frequent urination and increased bowel movement
- Menstrual problems in women
- Alopecia
- Heartbeat increases.
Ques. What are the various causes that lead to hyperthyroidism? (3 marks)
Ans. Various causes of hyperthyroidism are listed below:
- Increased level of the thyroid hormone
- Grave’s disease
- High-level secretion of TSH
- Increases iodine intake
- Thyroiditis
- Toxic multinodular goitre
Ques. What is hypothyroidism? (2 marks)
Ans. The condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormone is referred to as Hypothyroidism. The above condition may lead to enlargement of the thyroid gland, leading to goitre. The person who suffers from hypothyroidism may feel lethargic, feel cold and put on weight. This is also responsible for the reduced metabolic rate.
Ques. What are the causes responsible for hypothyroidism? (3 marks)
Ans. Various causes can be attributed to hypothyroidism. The most important are two: one is the inflammation of the thyroid gland that generally leads to damage to a large number of thyroid cells, and hence, they are unable to produce the hormones. The second cause of hypothyroidism is associated with the medical treatments involving surgical removal of the entire thyroid gland that disturbs the cells that are responsible for the secretion of TSH, hence leading to the condition.
Ques. What are the symptoms shown by a person who is hypothyroidic? (2 marks)
Ans. The various symptoms shown by a hypothyroid person are-
- Easily fatigueness
- Weight gain
- Person becoming sensitive to cold
- Dry skin
- Swollen or puffy face
- Muscle weakness
- Slow down of heart rate
- High blood cholesterol level
- Hair thinning
- Thyroid gland enlarges
- Stiffness, and muscle ache.
Ques. List the difference between Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism? (4 marks)
Ans. The difference between Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are as follows:
| Hypothyroidism | Hyperthyroidism |
|---|---|
| When the thyroid gland is not able to produce sufficient amounts of the necessary thyroid hormones. Then the condition is called hypothyroidism. | When there is excess production of thyroid hormones this condition is called hyperthyroidism. |
| This condition is also called underactive thyroid. | This condition is also referred to as overactive thyroid |
| Causes include radiation exposure, autoimmune disorder, low iodine diet, heart problem etc. | Causes include Increased level of the thyroid hormone, Grave’s disease.,etc. |
| Intolerance of cold | Intolerance of heat. |
Ques. What are the range of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone in human beings? (3 marks)
Ans. The range of thyroid stimulating hormone in human beings are as follows:
- For Infants up to 5 days old: 0.7 – 15.2 micro-international units per milliliter (uIU/mL).
- For Infants up to 6 to 90 days old: 0.72 – 11.0 uIU/mL.
- For Babies upto 4 to 12 months old: 0.73 – 8.35 uIU/mL.
- For Children upto 1 to 6 years old: 0.7 – 5.97 uIU/mL.
- For Children upto 7 to 11 years old: 0.6 – 4.84 uIU/mL.
- For Adult upto 12 to 20 years old: 0.51 – 4.3 uIU/mL.
- For Adults upto 21 to 99 years old: 0.27 – 4.2 uIU/mL.
Ques. What is the pituitary gland? (2 marks)
Ans. The pituitary gland is the part of the endocrine system which is responsible for controlling the growth of an individual. It also regulates the blood pressure, pregnancy, childbirth, thyroid gland and metabolism rate inside a human body. It is an oval-shaped gland that weighs approximately 5 grams. The pituitary gland consists of the anterior pituitary lobe, the posterior pituitary lobe, and an intermediate lobe.
Ques. Explain the two subunits of thyroid stimulating hormone? (2 marks)
Ans. Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is a hormone which controls the production of thyroid hormones. It regulates the production of thyroid hormones, thyroxine and triiodothyronine. The gland is situated in the neck. There are two subunits of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, which are as follows:
- Alpha Subunits: Alpha subunits are also called chorionic gonadotropin alpha, which is responsible for the stimulation of adenylate cyclase. It has a 92-amino acid sequence.
- Beta Subunits: Beta subunits are also called TSHB and determine their receptor specificity. It has a 118-amino acid sequence.
Check-Out:
Comments