Thyroid FAQs

Hyperthyroidism Slideshow

• Thyroid Overview
• Thyroid Disorders
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Thyroid Overview

The thyroid is an organ that is considered part of the endocrine, or hormone system. It is located in the neck below the Adam's apple. The thyroid's main purpose is to produce thyroid hormones. These hormones then travel through the body in the bloodstream to all the other tissues and organs to help control metabolism.

• The thyroid is shaped like a butterfly. The two "wings" of the butterfly are the right and left lobes of the thyroid. The connection between the wings is called the isthmus.
  
  
• The two hormones that the thyroid produces are thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3).

Location and picture of the thyroid gland.
Note two lobes of the thyroid, similar to butterfly wings.

• The thyroxine (T4) and tri-iodothyronine (T3) hormones regulate your body's metabolic functions such as heat generation, and the utilization of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. In children, thyroid hormones are responsible for growth and development.
  
  
• The thyroid's production of T4 and T3 is controlled by regulatory hormones from different parts of the brain. In the pituitary gland, thyrotropin-stimulating hormone (TSH) is released and travels via the bloodstream to the thyroid gland. TSH then stimulates the thyroid to produce T4 and T3.
  
  
• The pituitary gland acts like a thermostat. When there is too much thyroid hormone in the bloodstream, the pituitary releases less TSH to signal the thyroid to produce less thyroid hormone. When there is too little thyroid hormone in the bloodstream, the pituitary releases more TSH to signal the thyroid to increase thyroid hormone production. Through this "feedback" system, the production of thyroid hormone is tightly controlled.

Picture of the Pituitary Gland