Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease in which the production of thyroid hormones by thyroid cells is unregulated - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 20 - 2012 - Paper 1
Question 20
Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease in which the production of thyroid hormones by thyroid cells is unregulated. The following diagrams outline what occurs in r... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease in which the production of thyroid hormones by thyroid cells is unregulated - VCE - SSCE Biology - Question 20 - 2012 - Paper 1
Step 1
C. the presence of autoantibodies overstimulates the thyroid.
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Answer
In Graves' disease, there is an overproduction of thyroid hormones due to the presence of autoantibodies that bind to the TSH receptors on thyroid cells. This binding mimics the action of TSH, leading to overstimulation of hormone production, independent of the normal regulatory feedback mechanisms. Therefore, option C is the correct conclusion based on the diagrams provided.