What is the primary function of the thyroid gland?

The primary function of the thyroid gland is to control metabolism and other essential bodily functions. The thyroid gland produces hormones, such as thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), that play a critical role in regulating the body’s metabolic rate, heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development, and bone maintenance. By influencing how quickly the body uses energy and makes proteins, these hormones are vital for overall health and normal growth.

While the regulation of calcium levels is primarily managed by the parathyroid glands, sex hormones are primarily produced by the gonads (testes and ovaries), and stress responses are managed by the adrenal glands. Thus, these other options do not pertain to the fundamental roles of the thyroid gland.