The Thyroid Gland 

The thyroid gland is situated in the middle of the neck intwo halves draped around trachea, or windpipe. It is not usually big enough tofeel. It makes a hormone, thyroxine, which regulates the body’s metabolism.

 

Diseases of the thyroid gland

These take two basic forms:

  1. lumps or enlargement of the thyroid gland, which can be:
    1. generalised enlargement (goitre)
    2. Single lump or nodule

 

  1. and/or under- or over-function of the gland (making too much or too little hormone).