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Functions of Thyroid Hormones

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Thyroid Disorders

Abstract

Thyroid hormones (THs) play critical roles in growth, differentiation and metabolism. They are important for optimal functioning of almost all tissues with major effects on metabolic rate and oxygen consumption. The thyroid gland secretes two biologically active thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3). TH synthesis and secretion is exquisitely regulated by a negative-feedback system that involves the hypothalamus, pituitary, and thyroid gland (the HPT axis). Some of the important functions of the thyroid hormones include- neural growth and differentiation, myocardial contractility, regulation of bone formation and resorption, development and function of brown and white adipose tissue, cholesterol metabolism and synthesis, and in-utero they are important for fetal growth and differentiation. Thus, given their pleotropic effects, thyroid hormones are critical for survival and optimal functioning of the human body.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad, India

    Nishanth Dev MD

  2. Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

    Jhuma Sankar MD & M. V. Vinay MD

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  1. Nishanth Dev MD
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  2. Jhuma Sankar MD
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  3. M. V. Vinay MD
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Correspondence to Nishanth Dev MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Internal Medicine, Al-Mouwasat Hospital, Jubail, Saudi Arabia

    Syed Khalid Imam

  2. School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom

    Shamim I. Ahmad

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Dev, N., Sankar, J., Vinay, M.V. (2016). Functions of Thyroid Hormones. In: Imam, S., Ahmad, S. (eds) Thyroid Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25871-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25871-3_2

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