• The thyroid regulates the metabolic functions of the body by releasing thyroid hormones. This article details thyroid functions, disorders, and their treatment.
  • The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck below the Adam's apple.
  • Thyroid brochures for patients, medical professionals and the general public are available at www.thyroid.org/thyroid-information/ .
  • The thyroid gland is a key part of the human endocrine system and works together with your nervous and immune systems to regulate your body’s metabolism.
  • Key facts
    • Your thyroid is a small, bow-shaped gland that sits in the front of your neck.
    • Thyroid problems, such as an overactive or underactive thyroid, are common.
  • Thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ immediately beneath the cartilage called Adam’s apple in anterior part of the neck. It weighs approximately 20 grams.
  • The thyroid gland was originally known as the "laryngeal gland", and was renamed the "thyroid gland" by Thomas Wharton in 1646.
  • The thyroid gland is a butterfly organ in neck, situated above your collar bone (Adam’s apple). The thyroid gland is an essential element of your endocrine system.
  • It produces thyroid hormones that are involved in important processes such as metabolism, heart rate, and growth and development.
  • The thyroid is one of the endocrine glands. It produces hormones secreted into the blood and then transported throughout the body.