Thyroid Gland Function

The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in the neck, just below the larynx. The endocrine glands produce hormones, chemicals that carry messages to other parts of the body through the blood stream. The thyroid gland produces the thyroid hormone and is regulated by the pituitary, which is a master gland located at the base of the brain.

It maintains the proper functions of the body.

Thyroid hormone helps all cells in the body to function properly by controlling the metabolism, that is, the speed at which each part of the body works. The right amount of thyroid hormone keeps your metabolism at a healthy pace to help your brain, heart, muscles and other organs work well. A balanced metabolism also ensures an adequate temperature, heart rate, energy level and growth rate.

The thyroid cycle.

Thyroid hormone must be kept at a healthy level. This is achieved through a complex cycle that begins in the pituitary, the gland that monitors the level of thyroid hormone in the blood. Depending on the level, the pituitary sends TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) to the thyroid gland through the bloodstream. TSH tells the thyroid gland how much thyroid hormone it should produce. Once produced, thyroid hormone enters the bloodstream and from there it passes to the rest of the body. The pituitary detects the hormone level, adjusts the TSH level and thus continues the cycle.

Source: www.fairview.org