Ready? Get set…. T3!!!
T3… T3… T3… Ever since we discussed about the thyroid gland and the hormones secreted by it, all I remember is a Relay. I bet you are familiar with a track and field relay. I am a runner way back high school and I compete in relay competitions. Maybe because that was the thing that first came to my mind when our professor though us about the production and secretion of thyroid hormones. As a requirement for our summer term in Clinical Chemistry, we are to make a blog regarding Endocrinology. I was that time thinking how I can relate the T3 or Triiodothyronine in my past experiences to make it easy and simple for readers to understand.
Oh by the way, T3. Do you know something about T3? At first, I just know T3 as one of the hormones secreted by the thyroid gland together with the T4, but as I take a look into its deeper meaning. I learn something that is AMAZING….
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| Creditd to antranik,org |
T3 or Triiodothyronine is being secreted by the Thyroid Gland. The thyroid gland is the largest endocrine gland in the body. The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped organ which is located inferior to the larynx. It consists of two lobes, the right and left lateral lobes, these lobes are connected thru the isthmus which is located anterior to the trachea. The thyroid has a normal mass of 30 grams which is highly vascularized and receives 80-120 mL of blood per minute (Tortora, 2009).
They say in life, Height doesn’t matter, and I do believe in that. Coz I personally am height deprived. They also say grades don’t define a person’s intelligence, and for T3? Number or amounts don’t as well.
Wanna know why?
T3 and T4 are produced together by the Thyroid Gland, but T4 is produced in large number than that of T3. But then again, T3 is considered to be as the most active hormones among the thyroid hormones. It regulates the rate of the body’s metabolism; it has also an effect to the growth and rate of function of other systems in the body (Garner, 2000).
Wondering why I relate T3 with a track and field relay competition?
Because on the way how it is produced by the Thyroid Gland……
The thyroid hormone process begins when the hypothalamus produces thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) which triggers the pituitary gland in the brain to produce thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). TSH then acts upon the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormones. The two main thyroid hormones produced are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The thyroid gland produces more T4 compared with T3. Once the brain senses the thyroid gland has produced enough thyroid hormone, it will decrease TSH production. Through this negative feedback loop, the production of the thyroid hormones is slowed (Brownstein, 2004).
Wanna see how it runs????
IT GOES LIKE THISSSSSS!
See?? That’s a relay! Credits to me for the picture! J
Now, let’s take into the deeper importance of T3……..
It’s function!
Triidothyronin (T3) is an organic iodine-containing compound liberated from thyroglobulin. It is produced when T4 is deiodinated by three deiodinase enzymes to convert into the more-active triiodothyronine. T3 is produced in a smaller amount and it contains fewer iodine atoms per molecule. Thyroid T3 hormones have a biological half-life up to 2 days and a half.
Some of the basic functions of T3 are as follows:
· Responsible for increasing the consumption of both oxygen and energy in the body.
· Responsible for increasing the synthesis and degradation of the endogenous macromolecules.
· Increase the rate of protein degradation and synthesis.
· Increase as well the rate of glycogen degradation and the one of glucose synthesis.
· Has a role in the breakdown of cholesterol, since it stimulates it
· They are able to increase the heart rate and its force of contraction.
· Important in the development of the embryo, influencing the growth of the central nervous system after birth.
· Important effects in the growth of bones.
See? After I made this blog and after you have read it.
WE BOTH LEARN! J
One more interesting video down here regarding the THYROID HORMONE! Watch it and have a nice day! J
PS: It's my FIRST TIME! and this is my FIRST BLOG! :)
REFERENCE:
- ABOUT THE THYROID by Clifford S. Garner, Ph.D.
- Brownstein D. Overcoming Thyroid Disorders. West Bloomfield, MI: Medical Alternatives Press; 2004:19-21:26-27.
- Paoletti, J. Differentiation and Treatment of Hypothyroidism, Functional Hypothyroidism, and Functional Metabolism. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding Nov/Dec 2008; 487-497.
- Tortora G. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology 12th Edition. C&E Publisihing, Inc. 2009
- Wilke T. Estimation of Free Thyroid Hormone Concentrations in the Clinical Laboratory. CLIN.CHEM.32/4, 585-592 (1986)
- http://www.thyroidt3.net/hormone.html
