Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The thyroid gland is an organ located in the front of your neck that releases hormones that control metabolism (the way your body uses energy), breathing, heart rate, nervous system functions among others.
This term refers to all chemical reactions involved in maintaining living organisms' cells and organism itself.
Hypothyroidism/Hyperthyroidism: These terms refer to underactive or overactive thyroid function respectively which can lead to various health problems due to improper regulation of metabolism.
T3 and T4 Hormones: These are primary hormones produced by thyroid gland which regulate our metabolic rate.