Question

State the location of the thyroid gland.

Answer 1

Thyroid gland

1. The thyroid gland is located in the front portion of the neck, connected to the trachea below larynx (Adam's apple).
2. It is about 2-inches long and its shape is like a butterfly.
3. It has two lobes that are located on either side of the windpipe (trachea) and are usually connected by a band of thyroid tissue called the isthmus.
4. Sometimes there is no isthmus and instead, two separate thyroid lobes are present.
5. It utilizes iodine from the foods to make two main hormones: triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) and the other is calcitonin.
6. Thyroxine hormone regulates the basal metabolic rate.
7. It also plays an important role in digestion, heart and muscle function, brain development, and bone maintenance.