from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Thyroid \Thy"roid\, a. [Gr. qyreoeidh`s shield-shaped; qyreo`s a
large, oblong shield (from qy`ra a door) + e'i^dos form: cf.
F. thyro["i]de, thyr['e]o["i]de.]
1. Shaped like an oblong shield; shield-shaped; as, the
thyroid cartilage.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the thyroid body, thyroid
cartilage, or thyroid artery; thyroideal.
[1913 Webster]
{Thyroid cartilage}. See under {Larynx}.
{Thyroid body}, or {Thyroid gland} (Anat.), an endocrine
gland having two lobes, located in the floor of the mouth
or the region of the larynx, which secretes two hormones
({thyroxine} and {triiodothyronine}) that regulate the
rates of growth and metabloism. In man and most mammals it
is a highly vascular organ, partly surrounding the base of
the larynx and the upper part of the trachea. Cases of
hypothyroidism, where the gland is insufficiently active,
can be treated by administration of thyroxine or a
combination of thyroxine and triiodothyronine.
{Thyroid dislocation} (Surg.), dislocation of the thigh bone
into the thyroid foramen.
{Thyroid foramen}, the obturator foramen.
[1913 Webster]