What is the Thyroid Gland?
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland, about the size of a walnut, located in the front of the neck, just below the larynx.
It is part of the hormonal system (glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream) and is the main regulator of metabolism.
The hypothalamus and pituitary gland control the production of thyroid hormones through TRH and TSH. Thyroid hormones, T3 and T4, are carried through the blood to every cell in the body.
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Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) play a critical role in cellular metabolism, growth, and development.
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Iodine is an essential component of T3 and T4.
