Thyroid Facts & Worksheets

The thyroid, often known as the thyroid gland, is an endocrine gland found in vertebrates. In humans, it is located in the neck and comprises two linked lobes. The thyroid gland is butterfly-shaped in the neck beneath the Adam’s apple. 

See the fact file below for more information about the Thyroid, or you can download our 29-page Thyroid worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• The thyroid gland acquired its contemporary name in the 1600s when anatomist Thomas Wharton compared its shape to an Ancient Greek shield or thyos.
• Antiquity. The presence of the thyroid and its illnesses have been observed and treated for thousands of years. In 1600 BCE, burnt sponges and seaweed (which contain iodine) were employed in China to treat goiters, a practice that has spread worldwide. In Ayurvedic medicine, the book Sushruta Samhita, published around 1400 BCE, covered hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, and goiter.
• Leonardo da Vinci, a polymath from 1500, created the earliest image of the thyroid. Anatomist Thomas Wharton coined the present terminology for the thyroid in 1656. 
• The gland was named thyroid, which means ‘shield’ since its shape was similar to the shields often used in Ancient Greece. 
• The English name thyroid gland derives from Wharton’s medical Latin, glandula thyreoidea. Glandula means ‘gland’ in Latin, while thyreoidea comes from Ancient Greek and means ‘shield-like/shield-shaped.’
• For instance, numerous authors in the nineteenth century reported cretinism, myxedema, and their link to the thyroid. Hashimoto identified a case of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in 1912, and antibodies for this condition were discovered. Knowledge of the thyroid and its problems evolved across the late nineteenth and twentieth centuries, with several current treatments and investigative modalities emerging in the mid-twentieth century.
• Either Aetius, in the sixth century CE, performed the first thyroidectomy to treat goiter. Operations remained risky until the nineteenth century, when several authors, including Prussian surgeon Theodor Billroth, published descriptions.

STRUCTURE

• Features. The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped organ with two lobes, left and right, connected by a narrow tissue band known as the isthmus. Adult thyroids weigh 25 grams; each lobe is about 5 cm long, 3 cm wide, and 2 cm thick, with the isthmus measuring 1.25 cm in height and width.
• The gland is typically more prominent in women than men and grows in size during pregnancy. For instance, the thyroid lies within the front of the neck, between and around the larynx and trachea. The thyroid cartilage and cricoid cartilage are on top of the gland, below the Adam’s apple. 
• Furthermore, the isthmus stretches in the trachea’s second to third rings, with the lobes’ highest portion extending to the thyroid cartilage and the lowermost around the fourth to sixth tracheal rings.
• Blood, lymph, and nerve supply. The thyroid receives arterial blood from the superior thyroid artery, a branch of the external carotid artery, the inferior thyroid artery, a branch of the thyrocervical trunk, and an anatomical variant known as the thyroid ima artery, which has a variable origin.
• Lymphatic drainage frequently passes through the prelaryngeal lymph nodes and the pretracheal and paratracheal lymph nodes. The sympathetic trunk superior, middle, and inferior cervical ganglions supply the gland with sympathetic nerves.
• Variation. The thyroid gland size and shape and the position of the embedded parathyroid glands vary widely. A third lobe, known as the pyramidal lobe, may occasionally appear. The pyramidal lobe can also be referred to as the Lalouette pyramid. The pyramidal lobe is a remnant of the thyroglossal duct, which usually wastes away as the thyroid gland descends.
• Development. At 3-4 weeks gestation, the thyroid gland forms as an epithelial proliferation in the pharyngeal floor at the base of the tongue, between the tuberculum impar and the copula linguae. The copula is soon covered by the hypopharyngeal eminence, as shown by the foramen cecum. 

FUNCTION

• Thyroid Hormones. The thyroid’s primary role is to produce the iodine-containing thyroid hormones triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine or tetraiodothyronine (T4), and the peptide hormone calcitonin. Thyroid hormones are made from iodine and tyrosine. 
• Thyroid hormones have a variety of effects on the human body. These include: 
• Metabolic. Thyroid hormones boost the basal metabolic rate and impact practically all bodily tissues.
• Cardiovascular. Hormones enhance the frequency and intensity of the heartbeat.
• Developmental. Thyroid hormones are necessary for proper growth. They accelerate young people’s development, and the thyroid hormones T3 and T4 have a high affinity for developing brain cells.
• Hormone Production. Thyroglobulin serves as the precursor to thyroid hormones. This protein is found in the follicular lumen’s colloid and produced in the rough endoplasmic reticulum of follicular cells before being transported there. Thyroglobulin includes 123 tyrosine units, which interact with iodine in the follicular lumen.
• Regulation. Thyroxine and triiodothyronine production is principally regulated by the anterior pituitary gland thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) release. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), released in pulses from the hypothalamus, stimulates TSH release.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

• General practitioners and internal medicine experts can help identify thyroid illness and monitor its therapy. Endocrinologists and Thyroidologists are thyroid experts. Thyroid surgeons or otolaryngologists are in charge of the surgical treatment of thyroid illness.
• Functional Disorders. Hyperthyroidism is a condition characterized by excessive thyroid hormone production. Graves’ disease, toxic multinodular goiter, solitary thyroid adenoma, inflammation, and a pituitary adenoma that secretes too much TSH are all possible causes—meanwhile, an inactive thyroid gland results in hypothyroidism. Typical symptoms include excessive weight gain, fatigue, diarrhea, prolonged periods, hair loss, cold intolerance, and a sluggish heart rate.
• Diseases. Graves’ disease is an autoimmune condition that is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism. Autoantibodies form against the thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor for unexplained reasons. These antibodies stimulate the receptor, causing goiter and hyperthyroidism symptoms such as heat sensitivity, weight loss, diarrhea, and palpitations.
• For instance, thyroid nodules are commonly observed in the gland, with a 4-7% prevalence. Most nodules produce no symptoms, secrete normal thyroid hormones, and are not malignant. Non-cancerous examples include simple cysts, colloid nodules, and thyroid adenomas. 
• Moreover, A goiter is an enlarged thyroid gland. Goiters affect approximately 5% of the population and can be caused by various factors, including iodine deficiency, autoimmune illness, infection, inflammation, and infiltrative diseases such as sarcoidosis and amyloidosis. The most common thyroid tumor is a benign adenoma, which typically appears as a painless mass in the neck. Thyroid cancers are most commonly carcinomas, but cancer can develop in any tissue of the thyroid, including C-cells and lymphomas. Cancer from other places seldom lodges in the thyroid.
• Evaluation. The thyroid gland is examined for swelling or enlargement close to the neck. It is then felt, usually from behind, and the examiner may advise the patient to swallow to better feel the gland against the fingertips.
• Tests. Thyroid function tests comprise a battery of blood tests that detect thyroid hormones and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH).

Thyroid Worksheets

This fantastic bundle includes everything you need to know about the Thyroid across 29 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching kids about the Thyroid. The thyroid gland is butterfly-shaped in the neck beneath the Adam’s apple. 

Complete List of Included Worksheets

Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.

1. Thyroid Facts
2. The Anatomy
3. GFT: Good for Thyroids
4. Myth vs. Fact
5. T’ Glandocabulary
6. The Main Types
7. TGF: Thyroid Gland Functions
8. Healthy vs. Unhealthy
9. It Matters!
10. Prevention, than Cure
11. Self-Awareness

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the thyroid gland?

The thyroid gland is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located in the front of the neck, just below the Adam’s apple. It produces hormones that regulate metabolism, energy levels, and various bodily functions.

What are the common thyroid disorders?

Common thyroid disorders include hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer. Each condition has its own set of symptoms and treatment options.

What are the symptoms of thyroid disorders?

Symptoms of thyroid disorders can vary depending on whether the thyroid is overactive or underactive. Common symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, weight gain, cold intolerance, and dry skin, while hyperthyroidism may cause symptoms such as weight loss, rapid heartbeat, nervousness, and heat intolerance.

How are thyroid disorders diagnosed?

Thyroid disorders are typically diagnosed through a combination of physical examination, blood tests to measure thyroid hormone levels (TSH, T3, and T4), and imaging tests such as ultrasound or radioactive iodine scans. In some cases, a fine needle biopsy may be performed to evaluate thyroid nodules for cancerous cells.

What are the treatment options for thyroid disorders?

Treatment for thyroid disorders depends on the specific condition and its severity. Hypothyroidism is usually treated with synthetic thyroid hormone replacement medication, while hyperthyroidism may be treated with medications to block hormone production, radioactive iodine therapy, or in some cases, surgery to remove part or all of the thyroid gland. Thyroid cancer treatment may involve surgery, radioactive iodine therapy, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy, depending on the type and stage of cancer.

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