What Is the Thyroid?
The thyroid gland is one of the largest endocrine glands in the body and is responsible for controlling a variety of things, including how quickly the body uses energy, makes proteins, and how sensitive the body is to other hormones. In other words, the thyroid gland plays an important role in regulating organ function and metabolism.
The thyroid and parathyroid glands play an active role in your overall health, so any disorders or abnormalities in these glands may be harmful.
Where is the Thyroid?
The thyroid is located in the front of the neck, just below the “Adam’s Apple.” It’s butterfly-shaped with the “wings” being the left and right thyroid lobes that wrap around the trachea.
How Does the Thyroid Work?
The thyroid gland works in cooperation with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. Through a hormone called thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland causing the pituitary gland to release thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) to the thyroid gland.
The thyroid gland then releases T3 and T4 hormones (shortened references to two hormones produced by the thyroid gland to regulate the body’s metabolism) into the bloodstream that affect metabolism of the heart, liver and other organs.
It’s the job of the pituitary gland to regulate the level of thyroid hormones in the blood and increase or decrease the amount of TSH released.
Thyroid Gland Overview
Click on the image to view Dr. Ho discussing the thyroid gland.
Thyroid Cancer Testimonial
Overall, thyroid cancer remains a relatively uncommon form of cancer. However, due to new technological innovations, which are able to detect the disease early on, diagnoses are on the rise. This early detection capacity ultimately bodes well for treatment and for increasing one’s chances for long term survival.
Dennis was recently diagnosed with thyroid cancer and was referred to Henry N. Ho, M.D., a board certified otolaryngologist, specializing in head and neck cancer, president of The Ear, Nose, Throat and Plastic Surgery Associates and co-director of the Head and Neck Program at the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute.
