thyroid gland

noun

, Anatomy.

1. a two-lobed endocrine gland, located at the base of the neck that secretes two hormones that regulate the rates of metabolism, growth, and development.

thyroid gland

noun

1. an endocrine gland of vertebrates, consisting in man of two lobes near the base of the neck. It secretes hormones that control metabolism and body growth

thyroid gland

/ thī′roid′ /

1. A two-lobed gland that wraps around the trachea and is located at the base of the neck in vertebrate animals. The thyroid gland secretes two important hormones: thyroxine, which regulates the cell metabolism necessary for normal growth and development, and calcitonin, which stimulates the formation of bone and helps regulate the amount of calcium in the blood.

Word History and Origins

Origin of thyroid gland¹

First recorded in 1685–95

Example Sentences

About 80% of people with an overactive thyroid gland have it.

From BBC

Dorio, 72, said it was expected to take about three hours to remove the tumor and half of Clough’s thyroid gland.

From Los Angeles Times

Hypothyroidism is a disorder in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones.

From Salon

An overactive thyroid gland could lead to weight loss and make it hard to fall asleep.

From Seattle Times

Previous studies in mice suggest that so-called DMARDs, a type of immune-modulatory drugs used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, can reduce inflammation in the thyroid gland.

From Science Daily