Thyroid Glandula

It is one of the glands of the endocrine system that is outside of a body cavity. It is a small gland with a weight of about 28 grams and is located in the neck, under the larynx. This gland secret two hormones:

* Tiroxina
* Calcitonin (tirocalcitonina

The thyroxine:

* It affects the rate of growth and metabolism of all cells of the body.

* Controls reflexes.
* Regulates the rate by which the body produces energy
* Transform food components in the body.
* It causes the cells to accelerate the release of energy from food as needed stimulating catabolism (increasing the basal metabolic rate)

All bodily functions depend on the normal power supply, so the normal secretion of the thyroid gland is vital for the operation. One of the main components of thyroxine is iodine, a major agent of development body. Small children can not grow without adequate iodine. In elderly people, lack of thyroid hormone causes hair loss, delayed speech and dryness and thickening of skin. The average dose required for a normal adult is only 0.00003 grams per day, but it is vital to maintain the delicate balance between health and disease.

The thyroxine also controls body temperature. People with hyperactivity of the thyroid gland tend to feel too warm in cold conditions outside temperature, while those with little activity of the thyroid gland tend to feel cold in terms of external heat.

Calcitonin, tends to decrease the amount of blood calcium and phosphorus flow into the circulatory and inhibits bone resorption., The opposite effect to the parathyroid hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands. Calcitonin helps maintain homeostasis calcium in the blood. It prevents the occurrence of an excess of calcium in the blood, called hypercalcemia.

Ubica manual thyroid gland.

The T4, or thyroxine is the principal hormone that secretes thyroid and other thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine) or T3, are two hormones of the thyroid gland and its functions include:

* To stimulate metabolism
* To increase oxygen consumption and body temperature
* Intervene in the development of organs and tissues, especially in the nervous system and bone

The absence of these hormones can cause goitre from hypertrophy or not too serious a situation of severe growth retardation and mental deficiency known as endemic cretinism

The goiter: It enlarged the size of the thyroid gland and its most common causes are lack of iodine in the diet. The goiter is visible when the gland is inflamed (neck width in person), ie the gland is in search of iodine