La glándula tiroides (del latín glandem 'bellota', ulam 'pequeño' y del griego antiguo θυρεοειδής 'en forma de escudo') es una glándula neuroendocrina, situada justo debajo de la nuez de Adán, junto al cartílago tiroides sobre la tráquea. Pesa entre 15 y 30 gramos en el adulto, y está formada por dos lóbulos en forma de mariposa a ambos lados de la tráquea, ambos lóbulos unidos por el istmo. La glándula tiroides regula el metabolismo del cuerpo, es productora de proteínas y regula la sensibilidad del cuerpo a otras hormonas. La tiroides tiene una cápsula fibrosa que la cubre totalmente y envía tabiques interiormente que le dan el aspecto lobuloso a su parénquima. Además la aponeurosis cervical profunda se divide en dos capas cubriendo a la tiroides en sentido anterior y posterior dándole un aspecto de pseudocápsula, que es el plano de disección usado por los cirujanos.

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The thyroid gland, or simply the thyroid /ˈθaɪrɔɪd/, is an endocrine gland in the throat, and consists of two connected lobes. It is found at the front of the neck, below the Adam's apple. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones, which influence the metabolic rate, protein synthesis, and have a wide range of other effects, including on development. The thyroid hormones T3 and T4 are synthesized from iodine and tyrosine. The thyroid also produces calcitonin, which plays a role in calcium homeostasis. Hormonal output from the thyroid is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secreted from the anterior pituitary, which itself is regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) produced by the hypothalamus. The thyroid may be affected by several diseases. Hyperthyroidism occurs when the gland produces excessive amounts of thyroid hormones, the most common cause being Graves' disease—an autoimmune disorder. In contrast, hypothyroidism is a state of insufficient thyroid hormone production. Worldwide, the most common cause is iodine deficiency. Thyroid hormones are important for development, and hypothyroidism secondary to iodine deficiency remains the leading cause of preventable intellectual disability. In iodine-sufficient regions, the most common cause of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis—also an autoimmune disease. In addition, the thyroid gland may also develop several types of nodules and cancer.

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