Syllabus · Current · V5 (2025) · Endocrine System
L1 · Endocrine Physiology
L1.iv · Thyroid
Outline the endocrine secretions of the thyroid including their regulation and function.
Written examination
SAQ history
Thyroid Physiology — Hyperthyroidism
1 exam appearance
Thyroid Physiology — Thyroid Hormones
2 exam appearances
Oral examination
VIVA history
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2020B · Day 1 · VIVA 4
This viva will explore your knowledge of the thyroid physiology and beta-blockers. What is the fate of dietary iodine?
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2019B · Day 1 · VIVA 8
This viva will test your knowledge of metabolism and thyroid hormone. Define basal metabolic rate.
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2019A · Day 2 · VIVA 1
This viva is about physiology and pharmacology related to the thyroid axis. How does the thyroid gland synthesise thyroid hormone?
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2013A · VIVA 3
This Viva was centered around the physiology of thyroid and the thyroid hormone. It also briefly covered anti-thyroidal drugs. Candidates were first shown a picture of the histology of the thyroid and asked to discuss those features labelled within the picture.
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2011B · VIVA 7
This Viva will test your knowledge of the endocrinology of the thyroid gland. Q 1 What is a hormone? How is it defined? Subsequent questions asked about chemical types of hormones, hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary, the principal biological role of the thyroid hormones, production of thyroid hormones, advantages of thyroxine for thyroid replacement in comparison to triiodothyronine, and mechanism of action of propylthiouracil.
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2011A · VIVA 6
This Viva will examine your knowledge of the physiology of glucose regulation and hypoglycaemic drugs as well as the physiology of the Thyroid gland Q 1. Describe the physiology of Insulin This viva began with a discussion on the physiology of insulin, physiological consequences of insulin deficiency, oral hypoglycaemic drugs and the thyroid gland. Generally candidates performed well in this viva. The role of insulin beyond metabolism of glucose, fat and protein was not well understood. The differences in the pharmacology between T4 and T3 was another area of weakness.
Sources: objective text from the relevant CICM syllabus; historical SAQ and VIVA wording from CICM examiner reports.