The purpose of your thyroid gland is to make, store, and release thyroid hormones into your blood.
Hormones are chemicals that are secreted by glands which act like messengers telling specific body parts what to do. Thyroid hormones help the body make energy, keep body temperature regulated and assist other organs in their function. The thyroid (THY-royd) gland, a small butterfly-shaped gland in the front of your neck, makes thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormones travel from the thyroid gland through the blood to all parts of the body, where they do their work. The function of the thyroid gland is to take iodine, found in many foods, and convert it into thyroid hormones: thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). Thyroid cells are the only cells in the body which can absorb iodine. These cells combine iodine and the amino acid tyrosine to make T3 and T4. The purpose of your thyroid gland is to make, store, and release thyroid hormones into your blood. These hormones, which are also referred to as T3 (liothyronine) and T4 (levothyroxine), affect almost every cell in your body, and help control your body’s functions. Your Thyroid: What it is and What it does. Your thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland in the lower, front part of your neck. It controls your metabolism and keeps your whole body functioning properly. Get the basics (and specifics) here. The role of the thyroid gland is to make, store and release thyroid hormones. These hormones have a large impact on your health as they are involved in many important cell functions. This includes everything from growth of the body and brain, to the release of other important hormones, and even how energized you feel. Thyroid function tests are blood tests which help to check the function of the thyroid gland. They are mainly used to detect hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid). Note: the information below is a general guide only.
http://health.learninginfo.org/function-thyroid-gland.htm http://www.hormone.org/hormones-and-health/what-do-hormones-do/what-does-the-thyroid-gland-do http://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/thyroid/how-your-thyroid-works http://lightoflifefoundation.org/About-Thyroid-Cancer/About-the-Thyroid-Gland http://health.learninginfo.org/function-thyroid-gland.htm https://www.sharecare.com/health/thyroid-gland/function-of-thyroid-gland http://patient.info/health/thyroid-function-tests-leaflet
what function does the thyroid perform