The Body

Grown-ups

Thyroid

Your thyroid is a little butterfly in your neck that helps your body grow and use energy.

Your voice box sits at the top of your windpipe, with the butterfly thyroid just below. The circle looks down inside at your vocal cords. Tap any part!

A butterfly in your neck

Your thyroid (THY-royd) sits low in the front of your neck, below your voice box. It wraps around the front of your windpipe.

It's shaped like a butterfly, with two wings joined in the middle. It's small and soft, so you usually can't see it or feel it.

The thyroid is a gland. A gland is a body part that makes special chemicals your body needs.

Hormones, the body's messengers

Your thyroid makes hormones (HOR-mohnz). Hormones are messengers. They travel through your blood to every part of your body, carrying instructions.

Thyroid hormones work a bit like the gas pedal in a car. They help set how fast your body uses the energy from food. That energy keeps you warm, keeps your heart beating and powers everything you do.

They also help kids grow and help the brain develop. That's why newborn babies get a quick thyroid check as part of a tiny blood test.

Your brain keeps an eye on the thyroid. A small part of the brain called the pituitary (pih-TOO-ih-tair-ee) gland sends a signal when your body needs more thyroid hormone.

Iodine, the thyroid's favorite food

To make its hormones, the thyroid needs iodine (EYE-oh-dine), a mineral that comes from food.

Iodine is in foods like fish, milk, yogurt, eggs and seaweed. In many countries, a little iodine is also added to table salt.

Long ago, many people didn't get enough iodine, and their thyroids had trouble. Adding iodine to salt, about 100 years ago in the United States, helped millions of people.

One of a team of glands

The thyroid isn't the only gland that makes hormones. There's a whole team, called the endocrine (EN-doh-krin) system.

The pituitary gland in your brain is like the team captain. The pancreas makes insulin to help your body use sugar. Other glands help you grow, wake up and react when you're surprised.

Together, these glands keep your body running smoothly, day and night.

🤩 Wow facts

  • Your thyroid is shaped like a butterfly, with its wings spread around your windpipe.
  • Most of the iodine in your body is stored in your thyroid.
  • Thyroid hormones help keep you warm. When they run low, people often feel cold.
  • Newborn babies get a thyroid check as part of a tiny blood test.
  • Hormones are like messages your body sends through the blood.

💚 Look after it

  • Eat a mix of foods. Many, like milk, yogurt, eggs and fish, have iodine in them.
  • Go to your checkups. Doctors can gently feel your neck to check your thyroid.
  • Tell a grown-up if you feel very tired or very jittery for a long time.

🩹 When something goes wrong

When the thyroid is too slow or too fast. Sometimes a thyroid makes too little hormone, and a person may feel tired, cold or slow. Sometimes it makes too much, and they may feel jittery, hot or have trouble sleeping. If you feel like this a lot, tell a grown-up. A doctor can check with a simple test, and there are good ways to help.

🙋 Questions kids ask

Can I feel my thyroid?

Usually not. It's small and soft and sits under your skin and neck muscles. A doctor knows how to feel for it.

Is the thyroid the same as the Adam's apple?

No. The Adam's apple is part of your voice box. Your thyroid sits just below it.

🧠 Quick quiz

Question 1 of 2What shape is your thyroid?

🔗 It works with

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