PBL 2 – Angelica Reyes

1. Describe the anatomy, histology and function of the thyroid gland and related
structures
Anatomy:
 Thyroid gland is a ductless alveolar gland found in the neck anteriorly
 Surface landmarks: laryngeal prominence (Adam’s apple) – found just below it
 Butterfly-shape with two lobes which wrap around the trachea – connected centrally
by an isthmus
 Not usually palpable
 Sometimes, a third lobe known as an intermediate lobe can project from the
isthmus
 Vasculature: superior and inferior thyroid arteries
 The superior thyroid artery branches from the external carotid artery
 The inferior thyroid artery branches from the subclavian artery
 Vasculature: superior, middle and inferior thyroid veins
 Superior and middle thyroid veins drain into the internal jugular vein
 Inferior thyroid vein drains into the brachiocephalic vein
 Innervation: mostly from middle cervical ganglion
 Some innervation from superior and inferior cervical ganglia
 Has a rich lymphatic supply
 Spans from the 5th cervical vertebra to the 1st thoracic vertebra
 Gland is covered by two capsules
 True capsule – fibro-elastic connective tissue
 False capsule – pre-tracheal layer of deep cervical fascia
 There is a capillary plexus which is deeper to the true capsule

Related Structures:
 Laterally, the external carotid artery and internal jugular vein
 Anteriorly: skin, superficial and deep cervical fascia and platysma
 Posteriorly: thyroid laminae and tracheal rings
 The thyroid gland is in close proximity to two important nerves:
 External branch of superior laryngeal nerve
 Recurrent laryngeal nerve
 Recall that both are branches of the vagus nerve
 If damaged during a thyroidectomy – can lead to vocal paralysis or disability in
phonation (and a difficulty in breathing)
Structure/Histology:
 Divided into lobules by septae which dip from the capsule
 Each follicle is surrounded by thin connective tissue stroma which are rich in
fenestrated capillaries (and the sympathetic nerves which innervate them) and
lymphatics
 Thyroid lobules consist of a number of units called thyroid follicles which are the
structural and functional units of a thyroid gland
 Follicular epithelium is simple epithelium of columnar, cuboidal or squamous cells
(depends on the level of activity of the follicle)
 Active follicles appear to have cuboidal or columnar cells, but inactive follicles
appear to have squamous cells
 Follicular cells are derived from endoderm and secrete thyroid hormones
 Thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3)
 There are also small C cells known as parafollicular cells derived from neural crest
cells which secrete polypeptide hormone (calcitonin)
 Calcitonin is used for depositing calcium and phosphate in skeletal and other
tissues and to prevent hypercalcemia
 The thyroid follicles are storage compartments, with a lumen that is filled with a
substance called the colloid
 Colloid is composed primarily of thyroglobulin, an acidophilic secretory
glycoprotein
 Follicles are held together by a delicate network of reticular fibres with extensive
capillary beds
Thyroid Histology
Follicular Cells  Simple cuboidal epithelium
 Secrete T3 and T4
 Apically on EM, they have microvilli, abundant RER,
supranuclear Golgi complex, lysosomes, microtubules and
microfilaments
 Surround a lumen filled with colloid
Parafollicular cells  The C stands for calcitonin as these are the thyroid cells
(C-Cells) involved in calcitonin secretion
 Distributed between follicular cells and their basement
membrane (do not reach the lumen)

2. Discuss the process of thyroid hormone biosynthesis, storage and release