human thyroid gland

Contents

What is important to know about the human thyroid gland
Where is the human thyroid located?
What does the thyroid gland look like and how does it work?
Why can the thyroid gland hurt in humans
How is the human thyroid treated?
How to keep your thyroid healthy at home
Popular questions and answers

Doctors call the thyroid gland the “conductor” of the body, I wonder why? Together with an expert, we will figure out where the thyroid gland is located, how it looks and works, and also discuss why it can hurt in men and women.

The thyroid gland is small, but it is the largest component of the endocrine system of the body. She is “kindled” in the medical literature with various poetic names: she is called both the “queen of hormones” and the “mistress of the body.” Why?

The fact is that the thyroid gland produces hormones that control the main metabolic processes in the human body, regulate energy production and oxygen supply to tissues.

— Thyroid hormones affect the functioning of all organs and systems, — explains endocrinologist Elena Kulikova. – When the function of the thyroid gland changes, body weight, strength and frequency of heart contractions, respiratory rate and the work of the gastrointestinal tract change. The speed of thinking and the emotional state of a person depend on the activity of the thyroid gland. And even the ability to have children, pregnancy and the birth of a healthy child are also highly dependent on the level of thyroid hormones.

If you notice changes in the appearance and quality of the skin, pronounced swelling of the eyelids, you are worried about dull and brittle hair, hair loss, it is possible that this is due to thyroid problems.

What is important to know about the human thyroid gland

Size	Lobe width – 16-19 mm, length – 42-50 mm, thickness – 14-18 mm, isthmus thickness – 5 mm.
The weight	On average, 15-20 g per adult.
Volume	18 ml for women, 25 ml for men.
Structure	Consists of thyreons, and those – from follicles
Follicle	Structural and functional unit, which is a group of cells (in the form of a “bubble”). Inside each follicle there is a colloid – a gel-like substance.
What hormones does	1) iodine-containing hormones (thyroxine, triiodothyronine); 2) peptide hormone calcitonin.
What are hormones responsible for?	They support and regulate energy metabolism in organs and tissues, participate in the synthesis of new body cells, affect mental, physical and mental development, regulate the absorption and metabolism of phosphorus and calcium in the body.

Where is the human thyroid located?

The thyroid gland is located in the region of the anterior triangle of the neck, which is bounded from above by the base of the lower jaw, from below by the jugular notch of the sternum, on the sides by the anterior edges of the right and left sternocleidomastoid muscles¹.

Leaning a hand to the neck, you can feel the thyroid cartilage (the one that is called the Adam’s apple) – a dense or even solid protruding formation. When swallowed, it slips up. Directly below it is the thyroid gland itself – usually it is felt in the form of a soft “growth” on the trachea².

What does the thyroid gland look like and how does it work?

The shape of the thyroid gland is often compared to a butterfly. Its right and left lobes are connected by an isthmus, and in 30% of cases there is also a pyramidal lobe that extends from the isthmus.³.

The thyroid gland consists of structural elements resembling vesicles in appearance – the follicle. There are about 30 million of them². Each follicle is filled with a gel-like substance called a colloid. Just it contains hormones produced by cells. All follicles are grouped by 20-30 pieces: such groups are called thyreons.

The thyroid gland is controlled by 3 mechanisms.

The first mechanism is the hypothalamic-pituitary system, which is located in the brain. The exchange of information between the thyroid gland, the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland occurs with the help of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyreoliberin (TRH).
The central nervous system is responsible for the second regulation mechanism. A good example is the increase in thyroid hormone levels during times of stress.
The third mechanism of regulation is the content of inorganic iodine in the environment (primarily water and food). With insufficient intake of iodine in the body, the level of thyroid hormones decreases and various pathologies of the thyroid gland develop.

Why can the thyroid gland hurt in humans

Not everyone can recognize the signal from the thyroid gland. Often, a person confuses pain in this area with symptoms of osteochondrosis or thinks that he has a cold in his throat.

By the way, a person does not always feel pain. Usually, pain is a symptom of infectious thyroiditis (inflammation), and with hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, as well as with the formation of thyroid nodules, as a rule, it does not hurt.

Moreover, a person may not pay attention to the signals of the body for a long time and not assume that he has health problems. Therefore, it is important to know the symptoms of thyroid problems. These include: decreased performance, increased irritability, difficulty swallowing, sleep disturbance, anxiety (up to paranoia), weight loss with good appetite, etc. Different diseases have their own symptoms.

One of the most common causes of thyroid problems is a lack of iodine in the diet.

“Iodine deficiency is typical for many regions of our country: from mild to quite severe,” notes Elena Kulikova. – The need for additional intake of iodine-containing drugs or foods high in iodine is especially relevant for children, pregnant and lactating women. Timely consumption of iodized foods is the main prevention for the prevention of thyroid diseases in children and adults.

Among the causes of thyroid diseases can be: viruses and bacteria, autoimmune aggression, oncology. A favorable background for the occurrence of problems with the thyroid gland is chronic stress, iodine deficiency, and unfavorable ecology.

Thyroid diseases are the most common pathology of the endocrine system. They are 10-17 times more common in women than in men.⁵.

All diseases of the thyroid gland are divided into 3 groups depending on the level of thyroid hormones:

Thyrotoxicosis is a condition characterized by an increase in the level of thyroid hormones. The most common diseases that are accompanied by thyrotoxicosis syndrome are Graves’ disease (up to 80% of cases in Russia⁶), diffuse toxic goiter or nodular toxic goiter.
An increase in the level of thyroid hormones can also be expected with an exacerbation of chronic and the occurrence of acute and subacute thyroiditis.
Hypothyroidism. Associated with a significant decrease in thyroid hormone levels. In most cases, hypothyroidism develops against the background of autoimmune thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland) and is likely after resection (removal of part) of the thyroid gland.
Thyroid diseases that occur without hormonal disorders (euthyroid goiter, tumors, thyroiditis).

Let’s analyze the most common diseases.

Gipotireoz

The basis of this syndrome is a persistent deficiency of thyroid hormones, or a decrease in their effect on body tissues.⁷.

Primary hypothyroidism often develops against the background of autoimmune thyroiditis. Symptoms can be extremely varied, and often even a doctor does not immediately diagnose hypothyroidism. The risk group includes people who have undergone thyroid surgery, patients with diabetes mellitus and Addison’s disease, heavy smokers. Women should be especially careful after childbirth.

It would not be superfluous to be checked for hypothyroidism if, for no particular reason, weight began to grow, fatigue, drowsiness, unreasonable anxiety and depression appeared. Also, hypothyroidism can be manifested by a decrease in memory and attention, swelling of the face and legs, and hair loss. In men, this syndrome may be accompanied by a decrease in libido and potency, in women – a violation of the menstrual cycle. Anemia is another common symptom of hypothyroidism.

Graves’ disease (diffuse toxic goiter)

In the event of this disease, the body’s immune system produces antibodies that “encourage” the thyroid gland to work more actively than it should. As a result, an excess of thyroid hormones appears in the body, which negatively affects many organs and systems, especially the nervous and cardiovascular systems.

The first symptoms of Graves’ disease are: palpitations, sweating, weight loss against the background of increasing appetite, muscle weakness, irritability and irritability.⁸. In most cases, the thyroid gland enlarges and becomes visible. Very often, Graves’ disease is accompanied by endocrine ophthalmopathy, which is manifested by exophthalmos (bulging eyes) and swelling of the eyelids.

“The presence of ophthalmopathy in the vast majority of cases is a characteristic sign of diffuse toxic goiter,” says our expert. – It is important to remember that Graves’ disease is a relapsing disease. In most cases, it returns, which makes you think about choosing a radical method of therapy.

Diffuse and nodular euthyroid goiter

Euthyroid goiter is also called non-toxic. In this condition, there is an increase in the size of the thyroid gland without disturbing its function. The scale of the problem can be different: the goiter is sometimes only palpable, and sometimes it can be seen with the naked eye.

There are many reasons for the development of such a pathology, but the most common of them is iodine deficiency, which is necessary for the synthesis of thyroid hormones. To increase the production of hormones, the thyroid gland begins to increase in size.

With diffuse goiter, iron increases evenly, and with nodular goiter, separate volumetric formations or nodes appear in it. They can be single or multiple. There is also a mixed – diffuse-nodular form of the disease. In 95% of people, nodules are benign. However, this pathology requires careful diagnosis in order to exclude thyroid cancer.

Autoimmune thyroiditis

Inflammatory thyroid diseases of autoimmune etiology can lead to hypothyroidism. Autoimmune thyroiditis can be detected incidentally and not be accompanied by dysfunction of the thyroid gland.

The factors provoking the development of this disease include: heredity, unfavorable ecology, malfunctions of the immune system.

“As the disease progresses, the thyroid gland undergoes sclerotic changes and gradually reduces its functional activity,” says endocrinologist Elena Kulikova. – The course of the disease can be slow and accelerated. You can never know in advance how soon the thyroid gland will lose its function. In order not to miss this moment and start replacement therapy on time, we advise you to donate blood for TSH at least once a year.

Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer in most cases is highly differentiated. This means that the growth and development of the tumor is very slow. However, there are also aggressive forms of the disease, so you should be extremely careful and timely undergo an ultrasound of the thyroid gland and, if necessary, perform a fine-needle aspiration biopsy.

Depending on the origin, there are papillary, follicular and medullary thyroid cancer. In most cases, non-aggressive forms of papillary and follicular cancer occur. With timely treatment, the quality of life of the patient practically does not suffer. In such cases, minimally invasive methods of surgical treatment are sufficient. However, when a process is running or not detected in time, a serious operation is needed.

How is the human thyroid treated?

Diseases associated with a lack of thyroid hormones according to the “gold standard” suggest replacement therapy. Commonly used levothyroxine sodium⁹. The indication for the appointment of L-thyroxine is only hypothyroidism. In other situations, its appointment is unreasonable and can be dangerous.

Thyrostatic drugs are used to treat a number of thyroid diseases associated with its excessive functioning.

Radical methods of treatment include radioiodine therapy and surgical interventions. To understand which method of treatment is right for you, you need to consult a doctor.

Replacement therapy

This type of treatment is prescribed in cases where the function of the thyroid gland is reduced, and its replacement in whole or in part is necessary. The task of hormone replacement therapy is to normalize the level of thyroid hormones.

The drug of choice is L-thyroxine. It is very important to choose an adequate individual dose and take the drug correctly: strictly on an empty stomach, in the morning, 30 minutes before meals, with water. If the instructions are violated, well-being may worsen.

Normal thyroid hormone levels are especially important during pregnancy. L-thyroxine is prescribed to pregnant women if necessary, it is completely safe for the mother and fetus.

Thyrostatic treatment

It is used to treat thyrotoxicosis. In this case, thiourea preparations (thiamazole, propylthiouracil) are used. They accumulate in the thyroid gland and block the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Thyrostatic therapy is prescribed for a course of 1-1,5 years, or is used as a preparatory stage before surgery.

When taking thyreostatics, in some cases, side effects from the liver and circulatory system are possible. Therefore, during a control examination, it is necessary to take a blood test not only for the amount of thyroid hormones, but also a clinical blood test and liver parameters.

Against the background of thyreostatic therapy, allergic skin rashes are possible. It is extremely important to observe the dosage and mode of taking the drugs.

Surgical methods

The need and extent of surgery depends on the type of thyroid disease. With diffuse toxic goiter, thyroidectomy is indicated (complete removal of the thyroid gland). For various tumors, either thyroidectomy or hemithyroidectomy (partial removal). The volume of surgical intervention is determined by the surgeon-endocrinologist or specialist endocrinologist.

The operation can be performed in an open way (classical) or minimally invasive (endoscopic). Endoscopic methods (without large incisions) have undeniable advantages over open surgeries: less tissue damage, shorter rehabilitation period, almost invisible postoperative scars.

Surgical treatment of thyroid pathology has its own strict indications. There are a number of conditions (for example, colloid nodes) that do not require surgical treatment and are subject to dynamic monitoring.

Radioiodine therapy

Treatment with radioactive iodine is another method of radical treatment of various forms of toxic goiter. It is used in the event that the disease constantly returns, and thyreostatic therapy has not yielded results. Radioiodine therapy is recommended for small goiters to avoid surgery.

Doctors are convinced that radioactive iodine treatment does not affect the risk of developing thyroid cancer¹⁰. Contraindications: pregnancy, lactation, endocrine ophthalmopathy.

How to keep your thyroid healthy at home

A very important element for the normal functioning of the thyroid gland is iodine. The daily requirement for it depends on age: up to 5 years – 90 mcg, up to 12 years – 120 mcg, from 12 years – 150 mcg, for pregnant and lactating women – 250 mcg¹¹.

Not always the daily portion of iodine can be obtained from food, so doctors often prescribe iodine-containing drugs. However, one should not be too zealous in taking iodine preparations. In some cases, the daily dose can be obtained by using iodized or sea salt in the diet.

Thyroid diseases can be triggered by stress, overwork, viral and bacterial diseases, chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract. If you want your thyroid gland to feel good and work without fail, you need to strengthen your immune system, lead a healthy lifestyle, avoid stress and get enough sleep.

Alas, some factors (for example, genetic predisposition) cannot be influenced. Therefore, if you know that you have a family history of thyroid disease, monitor its condition with an annual ultrasound and blood test for TSH.