Pituitary and Thyroid Physiology · Physiology

Congenital hypothyroidism (Cretinism) leads to profound intellectual disability and stunted growth because thyroid hormones are essential for:

  1. Closure of the epiphyseal plates
  2. Development of the CNS and myelination
  3. Synthesis of hemoglobin in the fetus
  4. Regulation of core body temperature in utero
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Correct answer: Development of the CNS and myelination

Thyroid hormones are critical during the perinatal period for brain development, including dendrite branching and myelin formation. Without early replacement therapy, the damage to the central nervous system is irreversible.

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