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Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Meaning

Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone, or TSH, is a critical glycoprotein hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland, which acts as the master regulator of the thyroid gland’s function. Its primary role is to control the entire process of thyroid hormone synthesis and subsequent release of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) into the circulation. The measurement of TSH levels is the most sensitive and essential laboratory marker for assessing the functional status of the entire hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis in clinical practice.