key term - Colloid

Definition

A colloid is a mixture where one substance of microscopically dispersed insoluble particles is suspended throughout another substance. In the context of the thyroid gland, colloids are crucial for the storage and formation of thyroid hormones.

Related terms

Thyroid Hormones:

Chemical substances produced by the thyroid gland that regulate metabolism, energy generation, and overall growth and development.

Thyroglobulin:

A protein found in the thyroid gland that acts as a precursor to thyroid hormones and is stored within the colloid.

Hormone Synthesis:

The process by which various glands produce hormones; in the thyroid gland, this involves modifying thyroglobulin within the colloid to produce active thyroid hormones.