The thyroid gland has one main function within the body's endocrine system, and that is the regulation of the body's metabolism. Metabolism is the conversion of oxygen and calories to energy. And to do this, the thyroid gland must make thyroid hormone. This is the one hormone that makes all the tissues throughout the body increase in their cellular activity. Throughout this article, I will discuss how thyroid hormone is produced and common thyroid problems.
The thyroid is the biggest gland in the neck. It is situated in the anterior portion of the neck below the skin and muscle layers, in a region familiarly known as the "Adams Apple". It has a butterfly shape and the winged portion of its shape, called lobes, wrap around each side of the trachea. Each lobe is then joined together by a narrow band of thyroid tissue, called the isthmus. The thyroid gland, although being the largest gland in the neck, is also one of smallest glands in the body, weighing less than one ounce. The exact function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, which is found in many foods, and convert it into thyroid hormone. The two thyroid hormones produced are Thryoxine (T4), and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body that can absorb iodine. They combine with the amino acid Tyrosine to make T3 and T4. Then they are released into the bloodstream where they are transported throughout the body to control metabolism. The thyroid cells are crucial in the function of the body, because every cell depends on thyroid cells for regulation of metabolism.
Disorders of the thyroid are very common in today's society. There are four basic categories where you will find thyroid gland problems:
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- Hormone production (too much or too little: hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism)
- Problems due to increase growth of the thyroid gland in the neck
- Causing the compression of important structures in the neck.
- The formation of nodules or lumps within the thyroid (masses)
- Cancer of the thyroid gland
When hormones regulate our metabolism, they are regulating many things, such as how many calories we burn, how warm we feel, and how much we weigh. It also has a direct affect on body organs such as the heart, which beats faster and harder under the influence of hormones. In a healthy person, the thyroid gland makes just the right amount of T3 and T4 that the body needs to regulate metabolism. Hyperthyroidism is a condition which results from the over activity of the thyroid gland, meaning that the thyroid gland is producing an excess of hormones. There are many different causes for hyperthyroidism, but most of the symptoms are the same (Symptoms are what the patient feels or notices. Signs are what the physician can detect or measure). Some of these symptoms include breathlessness, insomnia, fatigue, light or absent menstrual cycles, heat intolerance, and nervousness. Cancer of the thyroid is when nodules or masses form within the thyroid itself.
Therefore we can conclude that inadequate production of thyroid hormones within the primary endocrine secretion of the thyroid gland, can cause many problems such as cellular differentiation, growth, and metabolism.
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