Thymus and Thyroid Gland

Location  Thyroid-located in the neck  Thymus-located behind the sternum

What is it?  Thyroid: a large ductless gland in the neck that secretes hormones regulating growth and development through the rate of metabolism  Thymus: a lymphoid organ situated in the neck of vertebrates that produces T cells for the immune system. The human thymus becomes much smaller at the approach of puberty

Types of hormones produced  Thyroid- T3 (triidothyronine) T4 (thyroxine) TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone)  Thymus- T-lymphocytes Thymosins

The effects the hormones have on the body  Thyroid- T3- T4- TSH- regulates the thyroid gland  Thymus- T-lymphocytes-white blood cells that fight infections and destroy abnormal cells Thymosins- stimulate the development of antibodies Regulate the growth and rate of function of many systems in the body

How does it contribute to homeostasis?  Thyroid The thyroid is essential in bioenergetics, increasing the rate of oxygen consumption and cellular metabolism The thyroid imports calcitonin in order to maintain homeostasis  Thymus The hormones in the thymus promote the development of the body’s immune system They help change a certain group of white blood cells called lymphocytes into T cells, programmed to attack any foreign substance in the body

Feedback and Antagonist Hormones  Thyroid Feedback Hormone-TSH & TRH Antagonist Hormone- NH-3  Thymus Feedback- development of T cells Antagonist Hormone- LHRH

Releasing hormones  Thyroid TRH-produced by the hypothalamus, that stimulates the release of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) and prolactin from the anterior pituitary. When the outside influences such as disease, damage to the thyroid or certain medicines break down communication, your thyroid might not produce enough hormones. This would slow down all of your body’s functions, a condition known as hypothyroidism or underactive thyroid. The thyroid can also produce too much hormone sending your systems into over drive, a condition known as hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid.  Thymus the hormone stimulates the development of disease fighting T-cells

If not functioning properly  Thyroid Hypothyroidism is almost always due to disease within your thyroid gland that causes a decrease in the production of thyroid hormone. The most common cause of this disorder is autoimmune thyroid disease, which is transmitted genetically and affects women much more often than men. Causes depression. CH stands for “congenital hypothyroidism”. Congenital means present at birth. Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the person does not make enough thyroid hormone. Most babies with CH are missing their thyroid gland or have a thyroid that did not develop properly. In some cases, the thyroid gland may be smaller than usual or may not be located in the correct place. The thyroid can also produce too much hormone sending your systems into over drive, a condition known as hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid.  Thymus the T-cells might lose some of their ability to distinguish self from non-self, making them more likely to attack the body’s own cells If the gland is not delivering 100 % of its potential of hormones and lymphocytes, the immune system suffers immediately and falls ill A rare condition called severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID, develops when a person carries a mutation in a gene that regulates development of T cells.

How is it fixed?  Thyroid Hypothyroidism is treated with thyroid hormone tablets containing precisely the same chemical compound that your thyroid normally produces Removed if causing too many problems (medication will then be taken to continue to give you the hormones that you would now lack)  Thymus SCID has been successfully treated through bone marrow transplantation or gene therapy removed if causing too many problems (medication will then be taken to continue to give you the hormones that you would now lack)

Sources ism/underactive.html ism/underactive.html rdisorders/CH.html rdisorders/CH.html ml ml disorders-of-the-thymus-gland/ disorders-of-the-thymus-gland/