7 When a physician wants to evaluate a patients thyroid func

7. When a physician wants to evaluate a patient’s thyroid function, a commonly used lab test evaluates TSH. What hormone is being tested, where does it come from? How does the hormone relate to thyroid function and what would a elevated level of TSH indicate for thyroid hormone? What does this tell you about the control mechanisms relative to the thyroid? (4-5 sentences should do it.)

Solution

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) hormone is commonly using in lab to determine the thyroid function.

TSH is secreated from pituitary gland, this stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroxine.

The concentration of thyroid hormones (T₃ and T₄) regulated by TSH; when the production of TSH is increased, T₃ and T₄ concentrations are will be low (hypothyroidism) and, conversely, when T₃ and T₄ concentrations will be are high, when TSH production is decreased (hyperthyroidism). It is an example of a negative feedback loop.