The thyroid gland is one of the organs of the endocrine system of our body. Its functions include the production of hormones responsible for the proper functioning of all organs and systems. What percentage of a person’s body weight is the thyroid gland and is it important for normal growth and development?
The proportion of the thyroid gland normally ranges from 5 to 16 g, but in absolute figures it is 4.5-8.6 g. The mass of the gland in an adult is approximately 20 grams. In children at birth, the proportion of the organ is even smaller and reaches 0.15 grams. During intrauterine development, the organ actively grows. This growth is due to the developing organism's need for thyroid hormones. If they are deficient, the fetus may not adapt to life outside the womb of a pregnant woman and may remain there.