thyroid gland
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Key facts
- Anatomy.Name
- Thyroid
- Anatomy.Latin
- glandula thyreoidea
- Anatomy.Greek
- θυρεοειδής
- Anatomy.Image
- Anterior thyroid.jpg
- Anatomy.Caption
- The human thyroid (tan), as viewed from the front; and arteries (red) supplying the gland.
- Anatomy.Image2
- Thyroid dummy.jpg
- Anatomy.Caption2
- The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck below the Adam's apple.
- Anatomy.Precursor
- Thyroid diverticulum (an extension of endoderm into 2nd pharyngeal arch)
- Anatomy.System
- Endocrine system
- Anatomy.Artery
- Superior, inferior thyroid arteries
- Anatomy.Vein
- Superior, middle, inferior thyroid veins
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
40 sectionsContents
- Structure
- Features
- Blood, lymph and nerve supply
- Variation
- Microanatomy
- Follicles
- Follicular cells
- <span class="anchor" id="Lumen"></span>Follicular lumen
- Parafollicular cells
- Development
- Function
- Thyroid hormones
- Hormone production
- Regulation
- Calcitonin
- Gene and protein expression
- Clinical significance
- Functional disorders
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
- Diseases
- Graves' disease
- Nodules
- Goitre
- Inflammation
- Cancer
- Congenital
- Iodine
- Evaluation
- Tests
- Imaging
- History
- Antiquity
- Scientific era
- Surgery
- Other animals
- See also
- References
- Books
- External links
The thyroid, or thyroid gland, is an endocrine gland in vertebrates. In humans, it is a butterfly-shaped or H-shaped gland located in the neck below the Adam's apple. It consists of two connected lobes. The lower two thirds of the lobes are connected by a thin band of tissue called the isthmus (: isthmi). Microscopically, the functional unit of the thyroid gland is the spherical thyroid follicle, lined with follicular cells (thyrocytes), and occasional parafollicular cells that surround a lumen containing colloid.
The thyroid gland secretes three hormones: the two thyroid hormonestriiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)and a peptide hormone, calcitonin. The thyroid hormones influence the metabolic rate and protein synthesis and growth and development in children. Calcitonin plays a role in calcium homeostasis.