The thyroid gland is located in the neck below the larynx and consists of two lobes. It produces the hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine through follicles composed of epithelial cells that secrete thyroglobulin into the follicle lumen. Thyroglobulin contains iodine that is converted to the active thyroid hormones which regulate metabolism, growth, and development throughout the body. The thyroid gland also contains parafollicular C cells that secrete the hormone calcitonin.