~ THYROID  id+ | SHIELD LIKE |
           gr THYREOS = SHIELD LIKE
  med> ONE OF 9 LARYNGEAL CARTILAGES
       UPON WHICH RESTS THE THYROID GLAND
  WHICH IS ESSENTIAL TO REGULATE THE
  METABOLIC RATE OF THE ORGANISM 
  med> LACK OF THYROID HORMONE PREVENTS 
       THE NORMAL DEVELOPMENT OF AN EMBRYON - FETUS 
  in particular CEREBRAL STRUCTURE 
  med> PRENATAL THYROID DEFICIENCY as well as 
       NEONATAL - INFANCY THYROID DEFFICIENCIES 
  are a CAUSE OF MENTAL SUBNORMALITY 
  hx> med> CONGENITAL THYROID DEFICIENCY SYNDROME 
           BECAME KNOWN AS CRETINISM which often was 
  ENDEMIC TO IODINE POOR REGIONS which implies 
  ALPINE REGIONS in EUROOPE and mountainous regions elswhere 
  see> CRETIN