Endocrine regulation · USMLE Step 1

If circulating free thyroid hormone (T3/T4) levels rise, what happens to TRH and TSH secretion under normal physiology?

  1. Both TRH and TSH increase
  2. TRH increases, TSH decreases
  3. Both TRH and TSH decrease
  4. TRH decreases, TSH increases
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Correct answer: Both TRH and TSH decrease

Elevated levels of free T3/T4 exert negative feedback on both the hypothalamus (decreasing TRH) and the anterior pituitary (decreasing TSH), reducing further thyroid hormone secretion.

Difficulty: Medium Question 6 of 23

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