Thyroid

{thif-roid) [dvpeoc, shield; eldoc, like]. 1. Shield shaped. 2. Pertaining to the T. gland. 3. Pertaining to the T. cartilage. 4. Pertaining to the T. foramen. T. Cartilage, the largest of the laryngeal cartilages, united at an angle in front, called the pomum Adami. T. Foramen. See Foramen, Obtiu-at or. T. Gland, one of the so called ductle glands, lying in front of the trachea, and consisting of two lateral lobes, connected centrally by an isthmus. The organ is composed of follicles lined by epithelium, producing a peculiar colloid material. The function of the organ is not definitely known, but is supposed to be the production of some substance nece ary to the body — an internal secretion that may counteract poisons produced in the system. Hypertrophy of the gland (goiter) is sometimes a ociated with a peculiar disease known as exophthalmic goiter; absence of the gland leads to cretinism or myxedema. An extract prepared from the T. gland of animals (T. Extract) and other preparations of the gland are used medicinally. See Organotherapy. 626