ABSTRACT
The size of thyroid gland varies considerably with age, sex, physiologic state, race and geographical location. Diseases of thyroid may need surgical intervention. This study is to carry out the macroscopic architecture of thyroid gland of different age and sex groups in Bangladeshi people to establish a normal standard. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study with an analytic component and was carried out on 54 autopsied human thyroid glands aged 5 to 65 years were collected from unclaimed dead bodies autopsied in morgue of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, Sylhet. It was done in department of Anatomy, from 1st July 2006 to 30th June 2007. The collected specimens were divided into age Group A (10 years and below), Group B (11 to 20 years), Group C (21 to 30 years), Group D (31 to 40 years), Group E (41 to 50 years) and Group F (51 years and above). All specimens were examined morphologically by fine dissection method. It was observed that in most cases superior limit did not reach the midpoint of thyroid cartilage on either side. Inferior limit reached up to 6th tracheal ring on right side and 5th tracheal ring on left side in most cases.
