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The thyroid gland is a midline butterfly-shaped organ located in the neck anterior to the trachea. It deserves consideration for its anatomical location and its close relationship to important structures, including the parathyroid glands, recurrent laryngeal nerves, and carotid blood vessels. The arterial supply to the thyroid gland comes from the superior and inferior thyroid arteries and, occasionally, the thyroidea ima. The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland and is responsible for producing the thyroid hormone and calcitonin, thus contributing to the regulation of metabolism and serum concentrations of electrolytes such as calcium. Thyroid hormones also contribute to protein synthesis and the normal growth and development of body tissues, including maturation of the nervous system, and they increase the body’s sensitivity to catecholamines. The thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), are produced and secreted by the thyroid gland in response to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary. Synthesis of the amino acid–derived T3 and T4 hormones requires iodine. Insufficient amounts of iodine in the diet can lead to goiter, cretinism, and many other disorders. Many disease processes can involve the thyroid gland, and alterations in the production of hormones can result in hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The thyroid gland is involved in inflammatory processes, autoimmune processes, and cancers. Investigations of the thyroid gland include serological tests (e.g., thyroid hormones, TSH, thyroglobulin, and calcitonin), imaging studies (e.g., ultrasonography, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and scintigraphy), biopsy (e.g., fine-needle aspiration and core-needle biopsy), and flexible laryngoscopy (for assessment of the vocal cords). This chapter summarizes the relevant surgical anatomy of the thyroid gland, the synthesis and functions of thyroid hormones and calcitonin, in addition to appropriate investigations that aid in reaching the proper diagnosis and providing adequate treatment of the various pathological disorders involving the gland.

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Thyroid Gland: Anatomy, Physiology, and Investigations

  • 章节

  • 发表日期：

    2026年

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  • Mahmoud Sakr

摘要

The thyroid gland is a midline butterfly-shaped organ located in the neck anterior to the trachea. It deserves consideration for its anatomical location and its close relationship to important structures, including the parathyroid glands, recurrent laryngeal nerves, and carotid blood vessels. The arterial supply to the thyroid gland comes from the superior and inferior thyroid arteries and, occasionally, the thyroidea ima. The thyroid gland is an endocrine gland and is responsible for producing the thyroid hormone and calcitonin, thus contributing to the regulation of metabolism and serum concentrations of electrolytes such as calcium. Thyroid hormones also contribute to protein synthesis and the normal growth and development of body tissues, including maturation of the nervous system, and they increase the body’s sensitivity to catecholamines. The thyroid hormones, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), are produced and secreted by the thyroid gland in response to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary. Synthesis of the amino acid–derived T3 and T4 hormones requires iodine. Insufficient amounts of iodine in the diet can lead to goiter, cretinism, and many other disorders. Many disease processes can involve the thyroid gland, and alterations in the production of hormones can result in hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The thyroid gland is involved in inflammatory processes, autoimmune processes, and cancers. Investigations of the thyroid gland include serological tests (e.g., thyroid hormones, TSH, thyroglobulin, and calcitonin), imaging studies (e.g., ultrasonography, computed tomography scan, magnetic resonance imaging, and scintigraphy), biopsy (e.g., fine-needle aspiration and core-needle biopsy), and flexible laryngoscopy (for assessment of the vocal cords). This chapter summarizes the relevant surgical anatomy of the thyroid gland, the synthesis and functions of thyroid hormones and calcitonin, in addition to appropriate investigations that aid in reaching the proper diagnosis and providing adequate treatment of the various pathological disorders involving the gland.