The thyroid is a very important, yet rarely discussed gland in your body. This gland produces hormones and controls your metabolism. Due to the complexity of the thyroid hormone and the potential complications that will be discussed further, individuals need to be proactive in order to catch thyroid disease in the early stages to prevent further complications and to also better your quality of life. Throughout this paper; the definition and functions of a thyroid, the types of thyroid disease, controversies and diseases related to hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism will all be discussed.
What is the Thyroid?.
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck (see Figure 1.1). The thyroid gland is made up of a central body or small isthmus and two lateral wings which are called lobes. The lobes are usually 4 cm in length, and weighs only approximately 30 grams (Mathur & Shiel, 2013). The thyroid tissue is made up of two types of cells: follicular cells and parafollicular cells. Most of the thyroid tissue consists of the follicular cells, which release iodine containing hormones called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). The parafollicular cells release the hormone calcitonin (University of Maryland, 2013). The "3" and "4" refer to the number of iodine molecules in each molecule of thyroid hormone. The thyroid needs iodine to produce the hormones in order to control your growth and metabolism. Everything from how quickly your body burns calories to your mood is controlled by your thyroid (see Figure 1.2). As long as your thyroid is producing the right amount of hormones, your body will function normally.
Functions of the Thyroid.
The thyroid plays an important part in regulating the body's metabolism and calcium balance. The T4 and T3 hormones stimulate every tissue in the body to produce proteins and increase the amount of oxygen used by cells. The harder the cells work, the harder the organs work.
