Understanding Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands: TSH and Its Impact on Metabolism

[courtrigrad]

What about your thyroid and parathyroid glandS? Don't they release TSH which regulates your basal body metabolism? Also what is the difference between lean muscle mass and bulk muscle mass (I have the former). Do they have the same effect on one's metabolism?

Thanks

 

[Moonbear]

The thyroid gland releases thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Some target organs can also convert T4 to T3 intracellularly. The primary function of thyroid hormones is in regulating metabolic rate, but are also important for normal neural development and can also affect reproduction (though the mechanism for this is unknown). TSH, or thyroid stimulating hormone, is produced in the pituitary, and is under the regulation of thyroid releasing hormone (TRH) produced by the hypothalamus. TSH tells the thyroid to produce T3 and T4. TRH tells the pituitary to produce TSH, and T3 and T4 (mostly T4 crosses the blood-brain barrier) signals the hypothalamus to not produce quite so much TRH (negative feedback in simple terms).

The parathyroid glands are small glands located on the thyroid gland. They produce parathyroid hormone and calcitonin. One of the best known functions of the parathyroids is in calcium regulation.

Usually lean muscle mass refers to the mass of skeletal muscle excluding fat...at least as far as I know. I don't know if the term is used differently in other contexts.

 

[ravenprp]

for sharing your knowledge about the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Yes, these glands do release TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) which plays a crucial role in regulating our basal body metabolism. This means that TSH helps to control the rate at which our body burns calories and uses energy for basic functions such as breathing, digestion, and maintaining body temperature.

However, it's important to note that the thyroid gland is primarily responsible for producing the hormones that regulate metabolism, while the parathyroid glands control the levels of calcium in the blood. Both glands work together to maintain balance in the body's metabolic processes.

In terms of lean muscle mass and bulk muscle mass, they do have different effects on metabolism. Lean muscle mass refers to the amount of muscle mass in the body without excess fat, while bulk muscle mass refers to an increase in overall muscle size and strength. Having a higher proportion of lean muscle mass can help to increase metabolism, as muscle tissue requires more energy to maintain compared to fat tissue. However, both types of muscle mass are important for overall health and can contribute to a healthy metabolism.

It's also worth mentioning that factors such as diet, exercise, and genetics can also play a role in metabolism and the development of muscle mass. So it's important to focus on maintaining a balanced and healthy lifestyle to support your body's metabolic processes.