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Thyroid Hormones, Thyroxine ( T4 ) And Triiodothyronine ( T3 )

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PPL 7. Thyroid function
Thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), are implicated in numerous process, including growth and development of muscle, bones and the central nervous system (CNS); metabolism by increasing basal metabolic rate, calorigenesis and appetite; and have cardiovascular effects due to they make the heart beats faster and harder. Deregulation of the correct function of the thyroid can lead to different pathological process such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroiditis, goiters, thyroid cancer and solitary thyroid nodules. The determination of thyroid hormones, especially FT4, together with TSH is an important element in clinical routine diagnosis. It is useful when thyroid disorders are suspected and also for the monitoring of therapy.
Before this learning unit, I was aware of general aspect of thyroid structure and function. But I found it helpful to adequate myself into the synthesis and control of hormone production. The transport of thyroid hormones along the body was new to me, as well as, the methods of measurement of thyroid hormones. Some of the thyroid disorders are quite common, so as a health worker, it is important to be aware of the different tests used to assess the thyroid, such as, plasma T3, T4 and TSH; besides the tests that establish the cause of the dysfunction, including thyroid autoantibodies (anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin), serum thyroid binding globulin (TBG), thyroid enzyme activities,

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