What is the predominant form of thyroid hormone in the circulation?

Enhance your knowledge with the Ciulla Clinical Chemistry Test. Study with interactive quizzes, featuring flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Each question offers hints and explanations for better understanding. Prepare effectively and excel in your exam!

Multiple Choice

What is the predominant form of thyroid hormone in the circulation?

Explanation:
Thyroxine (T4) is the predominant form circulating in the blood. The thyroid gland mainly secretes T4, which acts as a prohormone and provides a reservoir that peripheral tissues convert to the active hormone, T3, as needed. T4 has a longer half-life, so it remains in circulation at higher levels and serves as the major circulating thyroid hormone. In the blood, most of it is bound to transport proteins, with only a small free fraction available to tissues. The active hormone at target tissues, T3, is produced from T4 by deiodinase enzymes in peripheral tissues. The other iodinated tyrosines (monoiodotyrosine and diiodotyrosine) are intermediates used during hormone synthesis and are not the main circulating forms.

Thyroxine (T4) is the predominant form circulating in the blood. The thyroid gland mainly secretes T4, which acts as a prohormone and provides a reservoir that peripheral tissues convert to the active hormone, T3, as needed. T4 has a longer half-life, so it remains in circulation at higher levels and serves as the major circulating thyroid hormone. In the blood, most of it is bound to transport proteins, with only a small free fraction available to tissues. The active hormone at target tissues, T3, is produced from T4 by deiodinase enzymes in peripheral tissues. The other iodinated tyrosines (monoiodotyrosine and diiodotyrosine) are intermediates used during hormone synthesis and are not the main circulating forms.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy