- antithyroid drugs
- inhibit the thyroid hormone so that the body can maintain normal thyroid homeostasis
- bisphosphonates
- pyrophosphate analogues that inhibit bone resorption and increase bone density
- calcimimetics
- drugs that mimic the action of calcium in the parathyroid glands or other tissues
- calcitonin
- a hormone secreted by the thyroid gland that lowers blood calcium
- Chvostek sign
- a twitch of the facial muscles that occurs with gentle tapping of the cheek and in front of the ear
- dihydroxyvitamin D3
- an active form of vitamin D3 that increases uptake of calcium absorption in the intestine
- endocrine glands
- glands within the endocrine system that release hormones to control processes that occur within the body
- goiter
- an abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland
- Graves’ disease
- an immune disorder that results in the overproduction of thyroid hormones
- Hashimoto thyroiditis
- an autoimmune disorder that involves chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland, resulting in hypothyroidism
- iodine
- a mineral that the body needs to produce thyroid hormones
- iodotyrosine
- an iodo-derivative of tyrosine that acts as an intermediary in the biosynthesis of thyroid hormone
- myxedema coma
- a rare life-threatening condition caused by advanced hypothyroidism that affects the body’s temperature, growth, heart rate, and metabolism
- organification
- the biochemical process that takes place in the thyroid gland, involving the incorporation of iodine into thyroglobulin for the production of thyroid hormone
- osteoclast
- a large multinucleated cell responsible for the dissolution and absorption of bone
- osteonecrosis
- the death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply
- osteoporosis
- a condition that leads to the loss of bone mass, which thereby weakens bone
- Paget’s disease
- a disease that disrupts the body’s normal bone recycling process of replacing old bone tissue with new bone tissue
- parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- a peptide hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands that regulates serum calcium within the body
- thyroglobulin
- a protein present in the thyroid gland from which thyroid hormones are synthesized
- thyroid drugs
- drugs that replace the thyroid hormone so that the body can maintain its normal function
- thyroid gland
- a butterfly-shaped gland located in front of the neck below the voice box that is responsible for metabolism and iodine homeostasis within the body
- thyroid storm (thyrotoxic crisis)
- a rare life-threatening condition that occurs when the thyroid gland releases too much thyroid hormone
- thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)
- a hormone that stimulates the production of thyroxine and triiodothyronine; also known as thyrotropin
- thyroxine (T4)
- a hormone released by the thyroid gland that contains iodine and that increases the rate of chemical reactions within cells
- triiodothyronine (T3)
- a hormone released by the thyroid gland that plays a role in controlling the body’s metabolic rate, heart and digestive functions, muscle control, brain development and function, and bone maintenance
- Trousseau sign
- an involuntary contraction of the muscles in the hand and wrist