What it means
The pituitary glandpih-TOO-ih-tair-ee glandA gland the size of a pea, hanging below the brain, whose hormones control many other glands.Full entry releases more TSH when thyroid hormone is low and less when it is high. So in an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidismhy-poh-THY-roy-diz-umA condition in which the thyroid gland makes too little thyroid hormone.hypo- below, underthyr/o thyroid gland-ism conditionFull entry ) TSH is usually high, and in an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidismhy-per-THY-roy-diz-umA condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone.hyper- above, overthyr/o thyroid gland-ism conditionFull entry ) it is usually low. TSH is used to screen for thyroid disease and to adjust the dose of levothyroxinelee-voh-thy-ROK-seenA man-made form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4), taken to replace hormone the thyroid does not make.Full entry .
For the nurse
After a dose change of thyroid hormone, TSH is usually rechecked in about 6 to 8 weeks. Biotin supplements can affect some thyroid test results, so ask about them.
At a glance
| Normal range | About 0.4–4.0 mIU/L [0.4–4.0 mU/L]; each lab sets its own reference range. |
|---|---|
| Spanish | hormona estimulante de la tiroides |
| Also written | TSH, thyroid stimulating hormone, thyrotropin |
Related terms
hypothyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too little thyroid hormone.
hyperthyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone.
thyr/o
A word part that means the thyroid gland.
levothyroxine
A man-made form of the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4), taken to replace hormone the thyroid does not make.
pituitary gland
A gland the size of a pea, hanging below the brain, whose hormones control many other glands.