What Is the Thyroid?
What Is the Thyroid?
The thyroid (say: THYE-royd) is a gland, which is an organ that makes special chemicals called hormones (say: HOR-moans).
The thyroid is shaped like a little butterfly or bow tie and it sits under the skin in the front of your neck. To find it, touch your throat in the Adam's apple area with one finger and the top of your breastbone (the flat bone that runs down the middle of your chest) with another finger. The thyroid is in that small space in between your fingers. It bobs up and down when you swallow. See if you can feel it!
What Hormones Does the Thyroid Make?
The two major hormones that the thyroid makes and releases into the bloodstream are called:
- T4 or thyroxine (say: thy-ROKS-in)
- T3 or triiodothyronine (say: try-eye-o-doe-THYE-row-neen)
All cells in the body need thyroid hormones to work properly. These hormones control how fast the body uses up energy and are key factors in helping kids grow.
What Problems Can Happen?
The thyroid works kind of like the thermostat in a house. When the thyroid makes the right amount of thyroid hormones, it keeps the temperature just right. But:
- If the thyroid is too active (overactive) and makes too much T4 and T3, it's like having a thermostat that's set too high, so the house gets overheated. This is called hyperthyroidism (say: hi-per-THYE-roy-diz-em).
- If it's not active enough (underactive), it's set too low and the house is too cold. This is hypothyroidism (say: hi-po-THYE-roy-diz-em).
When a kid has one of these thyroid problems, doctors can treat it with medicine or, sometimes, surgery.
Previous:Word! Cerebral Palsy
Next:Cystic Fibrosis
-
For some kids, washing their hands is a pesky annoyance done quickly and haphazardly to get it over with. Other kids, especially younger ones are enthused but tend to make a big mess in their zealousness. Still others look at hand washing time as pla
-
Booster car seats are designed for children who are too large for a traditional front-facing car seat but arent big enough yet to be safe in an adult car seat. Adult car seats are generally designed for people taller than 4 feet, 9 inches, so until t
-
The state of Florida requires parents to secure children while riding in a vehicle in addition to the seat belt laws in the state. Keeping a child secured in a car seat prevents children from being thrown from a vehicle in an accident and restrains t
