THYROTROPHIN Meaning and
Definition
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Thyrotrophin, also known as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), is a hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that plays a crucial role in regulating the activity of the thyroid gland. It consists of a glycoprotein hormone composed of two subunits: alpha and beta. The alpha subunit is shared with other hormones, while the beta subunit is specific to TSH.
The primary function of thyrotrophin is to stimulate the production and release of thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland. TSH acts on the thyrotrophin receptors located on the surface of thyroid cells, stimulating the uptake of iodine, which is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. It also promotes the synthesis and secretion of thyroglobulin, a protein precursor of thyroid hormones.
The release of thyrotrophin is regulated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis, a negative feedback loop. When the levels of thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine - T3 and thyroxine - T4) in the blood are low, the hypothalamus secretes thyrotrophin-releasing hormone (TRH) to stimulate the anterior pituitary gland to release TSH. In turn, TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to produce and release more thyroid hormones. Once the levels of thyroid hormones reach the desired level, they inhibit the secretion of both TRH and TSH, thus maintaining homeostasis.
Abnormal levels of thyrotrophin can indicate various thyroid disorders. Higher-than-normal levels of TSH are indicative of primary hypothyroidism, where the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones. Conversely, lower-than-normal levels of TSH can indicate hyperthyroidism, where the thyroid gland over
Common Misspellings for THYROTROPHIN
- rhyrotrophin
- fhyrotrophin
- ghyrotrophin
- yhyrotrophin
- 6hyrotrophin
- 5hyrotrophin
- tgyrotrophin
- tbyrotrophin
- tnyrotrophin
- tjyrotrophin
- tuyrotrophin
- tyyrotrophin
- thtrotrophin
- thgrotrophin
- thhrotrophin
- thurotrophin
- th7rotrophin
- th6rotrophin
- thyeotrophin
Etymology of THYROTROPHIN
The word "thyrotrophin" is derived from two components: "thyro-" and "-trophin".
The first component, "thyro-", comes from the Greek word "thyreos", meaning "shield", which refers to the shape of the thyroid gland located in the neck. The term "thyro-" is commonly used as a prefix to denote something related to the thyroid gland.
The second component, "-trophin", is derived from the Greek word "trophe", meaning "nourishment" or "food". In medical terminology, the suffix "-trophin" is used to describe substances that stimulate the growth or function of a specific organ or gland.
Therefore, combining the two components, "thyrotrophin" refers to a substance that stimulates the growth or function of the thyroid gland.
Similar spelling words for THYROTROPHIN
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