What it means
A swelling of the thyroid glandTHY-royd GLANDA butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that makes hormones that control the body's metabolism.thyr/o thyroid-oid resemblingFull entry . Worldwide, the most common cause is too little iodine in the diet; iodized salt has made this rare in many countries. It can also occur with an underactive or overactive thyroid and with thyroid nodules. A large goiter can press on the windpipe or esophagus.
For the nurse
Ask about trouble swallowing or breathing, and report any sign the airway is being squeezed, such as noisy breathing.
At a glance
| Spanish | bocio |
|---|---|
| Also written | goitre, goiters |
Related terms
hypothyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too little thyroid hormone.
hyperthyroidism
A condition in which the thyroid gland makes too much thyroid hormone.
thyroid
Relating to the thyroid gland in the neck or the hormones it makes; often used alone to mean the gland itself.
thyroid gland
A butterfly-shaped gland at the front of the neck that makes hormones that control the body's metabolism.