A Guide to the Thyroid Trivia Quiz

Answer: Low on the front of the neck

The thyroid gland straddles the windpipe at the front of the neck. In men it is positioned just below the Adam's apple. It is a small gland, only about two inches (51 mm) across, but has important functions in the human body.

Answer: A butterfly

The thyroid has two lobes which are shaped rather like a pair of open butterfly wings. The lobes are usually, although not always, connected by a narrow strip of tissue known as an isthmus. During development of an embryo, the thyroid is located near the tongue, moving downwards to its location by around week seven.

Answer: To control metabolism

Metabolism is the process of converting food into energy. The hormones produced by the thyroid are vital to produce the energy for all the processes of the body. These include breathing, controlling body temperature, circulation of the blood and digestion. The hormones also contribute to repairing damaged cells.

T0, T1 and T2 do exist but are considered to be inert and are described as by-products of the process of creation of the main hormones.

Answer: Iodine

The thyroid needs sufficient quantities of iodine to produce its hormones. In the developed world, most people obtain iodine from a varied diet and iodine is routinely added to table salt in some countries, like the USA although not the UK. Taking iodine supplements is not necessary for most people and can cause more harm than good.

Answer: Pituitary

The process works on a loop involving the hypothalamus, the pituitary gland and the thyroid itself. The hypothalamus emits a thyroid releasing hormone which then prompts the pituitary gland to produce the thyroid stimulating hormone which tells the thyroid to produce T3 and T4.

When sufficient levels have been created, the hypothalamus stops releasing its hormone until levels drop again and the whole process restarts.

Answer: Autoimmune

The disease was first identified by a Japanese doctor named Hakaru Hashimoto in 1912, hence the name, although it took until 1957 for it to be recognised as an autoimmune reaction. The disease causes the body's own immune system to destroy the cells of the thyroid as if they were a threat. It is slow to develop and is difficult to diagnose because of this. The thyroid is gradually destroyed so cannot produce sufficient hormones, a situation called hypothyroidism.

The causes are unknown and it is a disease that affects more women than men.

Answer: Graves disease

Graves disease is also an autoimmune condition, but this causes the thyroid to become overactive and produce too many hormones, a condition known as hyperthyroidism. It is the most common kind of hyperthyroidism and causes symptoms which include anxiety, fatigue, heart palpitations and bulging eyes.

Treatment usually focuses on reducing the hormone production via radioactive iodine, taken orally (which will destroy part of the thyroid, reducing its output), or medications designed to reduce levels of the hormones the thyroid produces.

Answer: Goitre

Goitre is caused by a swelling of the thyroid and is an indicator that something is not right. It is an externally visible swelling to the neck region and may involve the whole neck or just one side. The cause could be any of the diseases of the thyroid, discussed elsewhere in this quiz, with additional potential causes being nodules on the gland or hormonal changes, perhaps during menopause or pregnancy.

Goitre is rarely a serious issue, but it could indicate cancer, so consulting your doctor is advisable.

Answer: Levo

Thyroxine was first extracted, using glands from pigs, in 1914 at the Mayo Clinic in the USA. The synthetic version was developed in the UK in 1927 by two British chemists, Charles Harington and George Barger. It is usually administered in tablet form, although injections and intravenous options are also available.

The drug comes in varying strengths, with blood tests being used to judge the levels required by an individual. Brand names include Synthroid and Euthyrox among many others, with Levothyroxine being the generic name.

Answer: Calcium

The thyroid produces calcitonin, which acts to reduce the amounts of calcium in the blood. The reasons for the production of calcitonin aren't fully understood. Science knows what the hormone does but not why - studies show that a fluctuation in the levels of calcitonin seems to have no discernible effect on human health.

Calcitonin is specific to the calcium in blood, so has no impact on bones or teeth. The parts of the body for which this calcium is needed are the muscles (contraction) and nerves. It also has an impact on blood clotting the and the heart.