What Is Thyroid Gland?

[tsh-sb123]

What Is Thyroid Gland?

About the Thyroid

Thyroid is an endocrine gland that secretes the hormone thyroxin which helps the body by controlling the metabolism.

The thyroid is a hormone secreting gland. It is an important part of the endocrine system of the human body. The thyroid gland lies just below the "Adam's Apple" (which is the protruding structure of the neck in the front of the body). The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland and is situated in the middle and lower part of the neck, spreading to both sides of the trachea (the windpipe).

The main function of the thyroid gland is to control the metabolism of the body. Metabolism is the rate at which all the cells function to keep the body healthy.

To control the metabolism of the body, the thyroid gland secretes the hormones T4 and T3. These two type of the thyroid hormones regulates the body's cells by "telling" them how much energy they (the cells) can use!

The thyroid gland constantly reproduces these spent hormones. When these thyroid hormones are secreted in the blood stream and are taken to all the important body parts, they are monitored and also are controlled by the pituitary gland which is located at the base of the brain in the skull.

The pituitary gland's hormonal secretions, the TSH, transmits signals to the thyroid gland to increase the thyroid hormones when these thyroid hormone secretions fall below the required levels normally (in physiological conditions). The "TSH" is the abbreviation form for "thyroid-stimulating hormone" and it is called so because of the reason mentioned just above. The synonym of TSH is "thyrotropin", and this thyrotropin is used used for conducting diagnostic test to differentiate the primary hypothyroidism and the secondary hypothyroidism.

[Mike]

What Is Thyroid Gland?

To control the metabolism of the body, the thyroid gland secretes the hormones T4 and T3. These two type of the thyroid hormones regulates the body's cells by "telling" them how much energy they (the cells) can use!

In simple words, this is right but going into details, the thyroid gland actually secretes four hormones which are T1, T2, T3 and T4. As the character of T2 and T1 is not fully understood till now, hence they dont take these hormones into account for any treatment.

According to Dr. Durrant Barry Peatfield, research has shown that T2 has very important metabolic part to play when it comes to conversion of inactive hormone T4 into active hormone of T3.

[tsh-sb123]

SiD!

Yes, and there is yet another: Calcitonin.
The T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin are the different hormones produced by the Thyroid gland.

Out of those, the T1 and T2 are still in the unknown zone and the modern medicine is yet to establish their exact actions on the human body.

But, Calcitonin has important functions. The Wiki describes the Calcitonin as:

" Calcitonin is a 32-amino acid linear polypeptide hormone that is produced in humans primarily by the parafollicular (also known as C-cells) of the thyroid..."

Calcitonin is produced as secretions by the C-cells in the thyroid gland. The calcitonin takes part in the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. It also has counter effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH).

[Mike]

Yup forgot about that one tsh-sb123.

Would you know by any chance how much hormones in total are produced by an adult's healthy thyroid gland.

I understand it should differ from human to human but I was looking some numbers like 100mcg of T4 and 20mcg of T3 and others etc.

[alice]

Hi SiD, in a healthy adult the normal ratio between the major hormones T3 and T4 is roughly 30:70.

On an average, thyroid gland of a healthy adult produces 87.0+/-3.9 micro grams/day of hormone T4,from which around 73 micro grams of T4 is generally metabolized to T3 form. T3 is produced in amounts of around 33 micro grams/day.

Hope it helps!

[Mike]

Hi SiD, in a healthy adult the normal ratio between the major hormones T3 and T4 is roughly 30:70.

On an average, thyroid gland of a healthy adult produces 87.0+/-3.9 micro grams/day of hormone T4,from which around 73 micro grams of T4 is generally metabolized to T3 form. T3 is produced in amounts of around 33 micro grams/day.

Hope it helps!

Wow that's interesting. Care to share where did u get this information from?

So that means someone without a thyroid gland has to take 220mcg thyroxine (T4) to make up the total numbers?

My assumption is based on T3 being 4 time more potent than T4 hence 87+(4x33)=220mcg

Would this be correct?