Thyroid Gland Facts

The thyroid is a small gland about the size of two joined cherries. It is situated at the front of your neck, just below the larynx.
The thyroid secretes (releases) three important hormones – tri-iodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and calcitonin.
The thyroid hormones affect how energetic you are by controlling your metabolic rate.
Your metabolic rate is the rate at which your body cells use glucose.
T3 and T4 hormones control metabolic rate by circulating into the blood and stimulating cells to convert more glucose.
If the thyroid sends out too little T3 and T4, you get cold and tired, your skin gets dry and you put on weight.
If the thyroid sends out too much T3 and T4, you become nervous, sweaty and overactive, and you will also lose weight.
The amount of T3 and T4 sent out by the thyroid depends on how much thyroid-stimulating hormone is sent to it from the pituitary gland (see the brain).
If the levels of T3 and T4 in the blood drop, the pituitary gland sends out extra thyroid stimulating hormone to tell the thyroid to produce more.

This entry is filed under Interesting Facts.