The main hormones of the thyroid gland and their significance for the human body

It is the thyroid gland that rightfully holds the title of one of the most important glands of internal secretion. Thyroid hormones are able to regulate virtually all major metabolic processes, and also affect the formation of bone tissue. That is why any violation of the hormonal balance is fraught with negative consequences for human health. First, you need to understand what hormones the thyroid gland produces.

Hormones of the thyroid gland are substances of the thyroid series, represented in the human body by thyroxine and triiodothyronine. In addition, specialized gland tissues produce a substance called calcitonin, which is responsible for the exchange of calcium.

Thyroid hormones and their basic functions . To form hormonal compounds, you need a certain amount of iodine, as well as an amino acid called tyrosine. With the help of specific peptides, these hormones enter the body's internal fluids and are carried along with the current to all the desired destinations. The regulation of the synthesis of thyroid hormones is carried out by neurohormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary system.

It should be noted that thyroxine, or as it is also called, tetraiodothyronine, can not be called chemically active, as, for example, triiodothyronine is much more active. By the way, the bulk of this hormone is formed precisely from thyroxine in specialized cells of renal and hepatic tissue.

The importance of these hormones is difficult to overestimate, since they regulate virtually all possible processes in the body. For example, they are involved in the processes of growth and differentiation of tissues and cells. They are also able to influence tissues, increasing their need for oxygen. Thyroxine regulates the level of blood pressure and can affect the strength and frequency of contractions of the heart muscle. Thyroid hormones maintain the body's normal temperature, and also affect the processes of disintegration and synthesis of substances.

Thyroxine and triiodothyronine also affect the nervous system. For example, they increase motor activity, and also regulate the level of wakefulness and sleep. These substances significantly increase a person's mental activity, and are also responsible for the speed and flow of thought associations.

As for calcitonin, then, as already mentioned, normal calcium and phosphorus in the tissues of the human body depend on it. In particular, this hormone acts directly on osteoblasts, stimulating their activity and increasing the level of calcium uptake of their blood and other internal fluids. He can also stimulate the activity of osteoclasts. That is why its role in the process of formation and growth of bones is very important.

Possible disorders of hormonal balance . Unfortunately, not always the body manages to maintain a certain level of thyroid hormones. Therefore, often enough patients are diagnosed with diseases that are somehow associated with a violation of the hormonal background.

For example, a lack of thyroid hormones can lead to the development of a disease called myxedema. It is also interesting that such a disease is much more often diagnosed among female representatives, while in men it is found very rarely.

This disease is characterized by violations of water balance in the body. Sick people complain of persistent swelling, hair loss and baldness, some fluctuations in body temperature. In addition, the signs of myxedema are pathological obesity and some problems on the part of the mental system.

Excess hormones significantly increase the level of cleavage of protein compounds. The result is rapid heartbeats, profuse sweating and warmth, and a sharp weight loss.