The illustration shows the thyroid gland with both lobes and the connecting isthmus that continues cranially as a medial lobe.
The cartilage is shown and illustrated the anatomical postitioning.
The outer laryngeal muscles the thyroid cartilage and the epiglottis are visible.
The thyroid produces hormones that affect growth and metabolism.
The parafollicular cells in the basal membrane produce calcitonin that can lower the blood calcium concentration.
The thyroid stores and excretes the thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4).
They direct the carbohydrate-, fat-, and protein-metabolism, corporal and mental development and hydration. Control happens via negative feedback between thyroid, pituitary gland and hypothalamus.
