甲状腺(こうじょうせん)

Compound of 甲状(こうじょう) ('shield-shaped') and 腺(せん) ('gland'). The name comes from the shape of the thyroid cartilage (甲状軟骨(こうじょうなんこつ)) that sits in front of it, not the gland itself.

Usage

• A technical medical term, used in clinical, educational, and health-reporting contexts.
• Frequently appears in compounds naming disorders and treatments; this is the form learners are most likely to encounter.
• In everyday conversation, people typically mention it only in connection with a diagnosis or check-up.

Common collocations

• 甲状腺(こうじょうせん)ホルモン: thyroid hormone
• 甲状腺(こうじょうせん)がん: thyroid cancer
• 甲状腺(こうじょうせん)機能(きのう)低下症(ていかしょう): hypothyroidism
• 甲状腺(こうじょうせん)機能(きのう)亢進症(こうしんしょう): hyperthyroidism
• 甲状腺(こうじょうせん)の検査(けんさ): thyroid examination
• 甲状腺(こうじょうせん)を患(わずら)う: to suffer from a thyroid condition

Related words

• 腺(せん): gland — the general suffix for glands in the body.
• ホルモン: hormone
• 内分泌(ないぶんぴつ): endocrine (secretion)
• 新陳代謝(しんちんたいしゃ): metabolism
• 副腎(ふくじん): adrenal gland — another endocrine gland.