Structure, location and function of the thyroid gland

  The human thyroid gland is “H-shaped” or “butterfly-shaped”, consisting of the left lobe, the right lobe, the isthmus and the cone lobe protruding from the isthmus, which is close to the front and side of the thyroid cartilage and tracheal cartilage.  The thyroid gland is an endocrine organ of the human body, which is similar to a factory that secretes and produces thyroid hormones every moment. Thyroid hormones play an important role in the body’s material metabolism, growth and development, the nervous system, cardiovascular and digestive systems, and maintain the normal physiological activities of the human body.  The thyroid gland functions abnormally for some known or unknown reasons, such as elevated function leading to corresponding symptoms as “hyperthyroidism” and reduced function leading to corresponding symptoms as “hypothyroidism”.