Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Gland - Related Videos
01:23
The Thyroid Gland
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2024
The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck and covers the anterior surface of the trachea. The gland has two lateral lobes connected by a thin tissue mass called the isthmus. Internally, each lobe comprises many small spherical structures known as thyroid follicles, surrounded by a network of blood vessels. The follicles have a central cavity lined by simple cuboidal to squamous epithelial cells called follicular cells. These cells produce the glycoprotein...
03:02
Orthotopic Inoculation of Thyroid Cancer Cells into Murine Thyroid: A Procedure to Establish Orthotopic Thyroid Cancer Mouse Model
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2023
This video describes the procedure for orthotopic inoculation of thyroid cancer cells into the thyroid gland of mouse models, which may then serve as a valuable platform to assess carcinogenesis and discover potential treatment strategies.
07:01
An Orthotopic Mouse Model of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
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Cited by 10 •
2013
Generation of an orthotopic mouse model of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is described here. This technique employs surgical placement of human anaplastic thyroid cancer cells into the thyroid of immunodeficient mice, thus creating a more clinically relevant setting to study disease progression as well as screen innovative therapeutic interventions.
08:33
An Ex vivo Culture System to Study Thyroid Development
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Cited by 14 •
2014
This protocol describes dissection of mouse embryonic thyroid anlagen and the culture of explants on semiporous filters or on microscopy plastic slides. This system is ideal to study morphogenetic or differentiation events occurring during thyroid development of wild type or knockout embryos, and is amenable to gain- and loss-of-function experiments.
07:13
Two Techniques to Create Hypoparathyroid Mice: Parathyroidectomy Using GFP Glands and Diphtheria-Toxin-Mediated Parathyroid Ablation
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Cited by 4 •
2017
Mice with acquired hypoparathyroidism would be useful for studying novel drug therapies for hypoparathyroidism. Two procedures to create such mice are demonstrated. The GFP-PTX mouse is generated by surgical parathyroidectomy guided by green fluorescing parathyroid glands. A second, non-surgical approach is based on parathyroid-specific expression of the diphtheria toxin receptor.
FAQs
Follicular cells use iodine as a necessary component for synthesizing thyroxine, or T4, and triiodothyronine, or T3. Rather than releasing these hormones immediately, the cells store them in colloid within the gland. This arrangement creates an internal reservoir that can later be released when the cells receive stimulation from pituitary thyroid-stimulating hormone.
The two cell populations support different physiological functions. Follicular cells produce T4 and T3, hormones associated with metabolism, growth, and development. Parafollicular cells produce calcitonin, which contributes to lowering blood calcium. Clinically, distinguishing these cell functions helps connect hormone findings with metabolic regulation or calcium balance.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone provides an important signal from the pituitary that prompts follicular cells to release stored thyroid hormones. Measuring it alongside thyroid hormones helps clinicians assess whether thyroid activity is appropriately regulated. This relationship supports evaluation of both reduced and excessive thyroid function, rather than relying on gland structure alone.
A clinical evaluation can include thyroid hormones, thyroid-stimulating hormone, and thyroid antibodies. These results provide complementary information about gland function and support diagnosis or management of conditions such as hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and thyroiditis. Interpreting the panel together is more informative than considering one laboratory result in isolation.
Thyroid antibody testing adds information beyond measurements of circulating hormones and thyroid-stimulating hormone. In clinical practice, antibody results support the diagnosis and management of thyroiditis and other thyroid disorders when interpreted with functional findings. They are therefore part of a broader assessment rather than a standalone measure of hormone production.
Assessment of thyroid structure is particularly relevant when clinicians evaluate nodules or possible thyroid cancer. Structural findings complement laboratory measurements, which primarily describe gland function. Using both forms of information helps distinguish questions about how the gland is working from questions about its physical appearance, supporting more complete clinical evaluation and management.