Thyroid

The thyroid is a small organ weighing around 10 to 20 g and shaped like a butterfly with its wings extended. It is located in the lower center of the neck (below the Adam's apple) as if surrounding the windpipe. The thyroid actively takes in iodine in the blood to produce thyroid hormones therefrom. Produced thyroid hormones are secreted into the blood and are transported to the whole body to act in various manners.

Thyroid hormones play roles of promoting metabolism to facilitate protein synthesis in the body and maintenance of energy metabolism and also roles of promoting growth and development of children's body and brains.

• Included in this reference material on March 31, 2017