Thyroid gland

 located immediately below the larynx on each side of and anterior to the trachea
 one of the largest of the endocrine glands – 15-0 gin adults
 secretes two major metabolic hormones
o thyroxine – T4
o triiodothyronine – T3
o Both of these hormones increase the metabolic rate of the body.
 Complete lack of thyroid secretion usually causes the basal metabolic rate to fall
40% to 50% below normal
 extreme excesses of thyroid secretion can increase the basal metabolic rate to
60% to 100% above normal.
 Thyroid secretion is controlled primarily by thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted by the
anterior pituitary gland.
The name glucocorticoid derives from early observations that these hormones were
involved in glucose metabolism. In the fasted state, cortisol stimulates several
processes that collectively serve to increase and maintain normal concentrations of
glucose in blood