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ilindsey05 ilindsey05
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11 years ago
Is my answer Thyroid gland? Also, what is the structure of the thyroid gland?
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wrote...
11 years ago
Q: What regulates the thyroid production?
Rightwards Arrow Uh... Do you mean the production of thyroxine?
A: The thyroid controls how much energy the body has to burn, how fast the body has to be in making proteins. In order to do those processes, the thyroid gland produces thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
The thyroid gland is controlled by hypothalamus and pituitary glands, and is regulated by a hormone called thyroid-stimmulating hormone, also known as TSH Rightwards Arrow which is released by the anterior pituitary. Regulating by the "Negative Feedback" loop.

Q: What is the structure of the thyroid gland?
A by Wikipedia: The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ and is composed of two cone-like lobes or wings: lobus dexter (right lobe) and lobus sinister (left lobe), connected with the isthmus. The organ is situated on the anterior side of the neck, lying against and around the larynx and trachea, reaching posteriorly the oesophagus and carotid sheath. It starts cranially at the oblique line on the thyroid cartilage (just below the laryngeal prominence or Adam's apple) and extends inferiorly to the fourth or fifth tracheal ring. It is difficult to demarcate the gland's upper and lower border with vertebral levels because it moves position in relation to these during swallowing.
wrote...
11 years ago
The thyroid gland is an Endocrine (meaning ductless) gland, which secretes its hormones directly into the bloodstream. It is located in the lower part of your neck. It wraps around your windpipe (trachea) like a bow tie, with two connecting lobes, and is well supplied with blood vessels.

The thyroid gland contains cells that secrete chemical substances called hormones. The main two hormones made by the thyroid gland are called thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), with T4 being produced in much greater quantities than T3.

T3, however, is the primary active hormone. T4 is much less active and while it does produce a limited effect, most of the T4 must be converted to T3 before it can be used by the body. This conversion takes place in particular organs (primarily the liver) and tissues, and is extremely important for the overall functioning of the body.

These hormones act like chemical messengers and deliver instructions to various tissues and organs (target organs) via the bloodstream. The cells within these organs then use the thyroid hormones and respond by speeding up or slowing down their activities. Overall, the thyroid gland is responsible for the speed of metabolism (metabolic and chemical processes) in our bodies, by affecting every cell, tissue, organ and organ system. The thyroid gland is therefore essential for life, growth and development.

Thyroid hormones affect body temperature and circulation, appetite, energy levels, growth, skeletal development, muscle tone and agility, cardiac rate (force and output), fluid balance, blood sugar levels, central nervous system function, bowel function, blood fat (cholesterol) levels, and the regulation of fat, carbohydrate and protein metabolism in all cells.

The thyroid functions via a negative feedback loop.

The amount of T3 and T4 produced by the thyroid gland is controlled by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain. It does this by secreting Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). When the levels of T4 and T3 fall, the pituitary secretes more TSH. When T4 and T3 levels rise, the pituitary secretes less TSH. Normally this complicated production and control system ensures that the body has just the right amount of T3 and T4, but it can go wrong.
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