Thyroid Gland

Definition

The thyroid gland is an organ located in the front of your neck that releases hormones that control metabolism (the way your body uses energy), breathing, heart rate, nervous system functions among others.

Analogy

Consider your thyroid gland as a gas pedal for a car. When you press down on it (when more thyroid hormone is released), all bodily functions speed up - just like how pressing down on a gas pedal makes a car go faster.

Related terms

Metabolism: This term refers to all chemical reactions involved in maintaining living organisms' cells and organism itself.

Hypothyroidism/Hyperthyroidism: These terms refer to underactive or overactive thyroid function respectively which can lead to various health problems due to improper regulation of metabolism.

T3 and T4 Hormones: These are primary hormones produced by thyroid gland which regulate our metabolic rate.