What is Thyroid?
[[File:Thyroid dummy.jpg|thumb|250px|Where the thyroid is]] The '''thyroid''' is one of the largest [[Endocrine system|endocrine]] [[gland]]s in the body. This gland is found in the [[throat]]. The thyroid controls how quickly the body burns [[energy]], makes [[proteins]], and how sensitive the body should be to other [[hormones]]. The principal hormones it makes are thyroxine (T4) an triiodothyronine (T3), which is more active. These hormones regulate the growth of many systems in the body. T3 and T4 are synthesised from [[iodine]] and [[tyrosine]]. The thyroid also makes calcitonin, which plays a role in [[calcium]] [[homeostasis]]. ==Diseases== ===Hyper- and hypofunction (affects about 2% of the population)=== * [[Hypothyroidism]] (underactivity) - Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not make enough thyroid hormone. [[File:Anterior thyroid.jpg|thumb|300px|Structures near the thyroid]] ** [[Hashimoto's thyroiditis]] / [[thyroiditis]] ** [[Ord's thyroiditis]] ** Postoperative hypothyroidism ** [[Postpartum thyroiditis]] ** [[Silent thyroiditis]] ** Acute thyroiditis ** Iatrogenic hypothyroidism * [[Hyperthyroidism]] (overactivity) ** Thyroid storm ** [[Graves-Basedow disease]] ** [[Toxic thyroid nodule]] ** [[Toxic nodular struma]] (Plummer's disease) ** Hashitoxicosis ** Iatrogenic hyperthyroidism ** De Quervain thyroiditis ([[inflammation]] starting as hyperthyroidism, can end as hypothyroidism) ===Anatomical problems=== * [[Goitre]] ** [[Endemic goitre]] ** [[Diffuse goitre]] ** [[Multinodular goitre]] * Lingual thyroid * [[Thyroglossal cyst|Thyroglossal duct cyst]] ===Tumors=== * [[Thyroid adenoma]] * [[Thyroid cancer]] ** Papillary ** Follicular ** Medullary ** Anaplastic * [[Lymphoma]]s and [[metastasis]] from elsewhere (rare) ===Deficiencies=== *[[Cretinism]] ==Additional images== <gallery> Image:Gray994.png|Sagittal section of nose mouth, pharynx, and larynx. Image:Gray561.png|Diagram showing common arrangement of thyroid veins. Image:Gray1176.png|Section of thyroid gl