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Book

Anatomy, Head and Neck, Thyroid

Evan Allen  1 , Abbey Fingeret  2
In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan.
.
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Book

Anatomy, Head and Neck, Thyroid

Evan Allen et al.
Free Books & Documents

Excerpt

The thyroid gland is a midline anterior cervical structure, overlying the C5 to T1 vertebral levels. This gland functions as an endocrine organ, producing thyroid hormone and calcitonin, thereby regulating metabolism, growth, and serum calcium concentrations.

Multiple disease processes can involve the thyroid. Altered hormone production results in hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism. The gland is susceptible to inflammatory conditions such as thyroiditis, autoimmune disorders such as Graves disease, and malignancies that include papillary thyroid carcinoma, follicular carcinoma, and medullary thyroid carcinoma. The thyroid also has important anatomical relationships, lying adjacent to the parathyroid glands, recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs), and regional vasculature.

Understanding thyroid anatomy and function enables clinicians to recognize and treat endocrine, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions that affect this gland. Familiarity with this organ's anatomical relationships also aids in minimizing complications during surgical procedures involving the neck.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: Evan Allen declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Disclosure: Abbey Fingeret declares no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

References

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