Thyroid Gland Essay

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The thyroid gland is a gland in the endocrine system. It helps to make and store hormones that help regulate one’s heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate at which food is converted into energy. The thyroid hormones help every cell to function appropriately in the body. They help to regulate growth and the rate of metabolism in the body (Thompson, 2007). Without thyroid hormones we would not be able to function properly nor would children be able to physically mature and develop. The thyroid gland is located in the lower part of the neck, (in the male below the Adam’s apple), and wraps around the trachea. Its shape looks like a butterfly’s two wings (lobes) attached by a middle part called the isthmus. It usually weighs less than one ounce. The color of it is a brownish-red tone and it contains many blood vessels. Nerves are important for voice quality so that is able to pass through the thyroid.
Hormone secretion …show more content…

They help to generate heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and the rate in which food is converted into energy. The 2 main thyroid hormones are T3 (triiodothyronine) and T4 (thyroxin). The amount of thyroid hormones secreted is controlled by another hormone, called thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is released from the pituitary gland in your head ("How Your Thyroid Works"). Thyroid hormones act throughout the body, influencing metabolism, growth and development, and body temperature. During infancy and childhood, adequate thyroid hormone is crucial for brain development (Tree, 2013). The thyroid gland also makes the hormone calcitonin, which is involved in calcium metabolism and stimulating bone cells to add calcium to bone ("How Your Thyroid Works")

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