The thyroid gland is an organ that produces hormones to enhance metabolism in the body.
Unlike gastrointestinal or kidney disorders, many people do not quite have a clear idea about "thyroid disorders." In which part of the body is the thyroid gland found? What is its function? Let's first take a look at the location and function of the thyroid gland in order to understand thyroid disorders.

The thyroid gland is located in the front part of the neck, just below the Adam's apple. It is about 4 cm in height and weighs about 18 g. It is shaped like a butterfly with its wings wide open. Immediately behind it is the trachea (the windpipe or air passage to the lungs) and the thyroid gland is attached to the trachea as if hugging it. As the thyroid gland is a very thin and soft organ, it is usually not noticeable, even if you touch your neck. However, even the slightest swelling in the thyroid gland becomes palpable. A larger amount of swelling becomes visible to the naked eye. Many people, therefore, suspect a thyroid disorder because of "swelling in the neck."

Various kinds of hormones, including sex hormones, are produced in the body.
Organs that produce hormones are called endocrine organs and the thyroid gland is one such organ. It synthesizes thyroid hormones using the iodine contained in food (mainly found in seaweed).

We consume protein, fat and carbohydrates as food and these nutrients are metabolized and used as materials to build body tissue or as energy for the body. Thyroid hormones have the function of stimulating or enhancing these metabolic processes. Thyroid hormones play an important role in the development of fetuses and also induce growth in children.
There are two types of thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4), which contains four iodine atoms and triiodothyronine (T3), which contains three iodine atoms.
The thyroid gland mainly produces T4. T4 is then carried into the liver, where it is converted to T3. T3 shows greater hormonal activity.

The body has a system to maintain constant levels of thyroid hormones in the blood. The system is controlled by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is secreted by a part of the brain called the pituitary gland. This hormone has the function of stimulating the thyroid gland and inducing the secretion of thyroid hormones. If the level of thyroid hormones in the blood becomes too high, the amount of TSH secreted by the pituitary gland is reduced and naturally prohibits the secretion of thyroid hormones, just like a thermostat. On the other hand, if the level of thyroid hormones in the blood is below normal, the amount of TSH secreted is increased, inducing the secretion of thyroid hormones. This function is known as a "feedback mechanism" and it enables the body to always maintain the level of thyroid hormones in the blood within a specific range.