Thyroid gland: anatomy, relations, blood supply and applied anatomy
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Thyroid gland: largest endocrine gland in the body, H-shaped, in the lower front and side of the neck, clasping the upper trachea.
Secretes triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4) and calcitonin; regulates basal metabolic rate, growth, and calcium metabolism.
Location, Parts and Dimensions
Location: opposite the C5 to T1 vertebrae, in the lower part of the neck.
Parts: right and left lateral lobes joined across the midline by a horizontal isthmus.
A pyramidal lobe may project upward from the isthmus, usually left of the midline; it may attach to the hyoid bone by the levator glandulae thyroideae.
Each lateral lobe extends from the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage above to the 5th or 6th tracheal ring below; the isthmus lies in front of the 2nd to 4th tracheal rings.