Module 2

1. Module 2

1.27. Lesson 4

Lesson 4

Module 2—The Endocrine System

Lesson 4—the Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands

Get Focused

This photograph shows a young boy kicking a soccer ball. His constant high level of activity and slim body could be symptoms of hyperthyroidism.

This photograph shows an overweight, middle-aged man sleeping in a chair with the TV remote in his hand. He could suffer from hypothyroidism.

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are two opposite types of thyroid disorders. If you have hyperthyroidism, you might always feel too hot, experience weight loss, and find it difficult to concentrate. You may also be jittery and hyperactive. If you have hypothyroidism, you are likely to feel cold, you may be overweight, you may feel lethargic, and you may have trouble staying awake. Emily developed hypothyroidism with her condition. She also developed tiny growths in the parathyroid glands. An overproduction of a parathyroid hormone caused her to lose calcium from her bones, which became fragile and brittle and caused her to develop kidney stones.

In this lesson you will explore the following focusing question:

How do the thyroid and parathyroid glands contribute to homeostasis?

The thyroid gland is an excellent example of a gland affected by a tropic hormone. This is an important lesson because the feedback loop that you will develop is a typical example of glands and hormones at work.

Module 2: Lesson 4 Assignment

Download a copy of the Module 2: Lesson 4 Assignment to your computer now. You will receive further instructions about how to complete this assignment later in the lesson.

You must decide what to do with the questions that are not marked by the teacher.

Remember that these questions provide you with the practice and feedback that you need to successfully complete this course. You should respond to all the questions and place those answers in your course folder.

While you are completing this lesson, there will be many opportunities for you to acquire, understand, and practise the concepts that are presented to you. As you complete these activities, as well as your summary notes, you will file everything in your course folder to reference when you are preparing for exams.

Remember you also have the option of trying additional questions from the textbook for further practice. Consult with your teacher for the answers to these questions. The Key will also provide you with many Diploma Exam-style multiple-choice, numerical-response, and written-response questions that will be an excellent review of the module. Practising your responses to these types of questions is good preparation for the Diploma Exam.