Which one of the following glands in human body enlarges due to gioter?

Goiter (or goitre) is a medical condition characterized by the abnormal enlargement of the thyroid gland, a butterfly-shaped endocrine organ located in the neck [t4][t6]. The most common cause of goiter worldwide is a deficiency of iodine in the diet, as iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroxin [c1][t3]. When iodine levels are insufficient, the thyroid gland enlarges in an attempt to capture more iodine or compensate for low hormone production, often resulting in a visible swelling or 'swollen neck' [c1][t10]. While other glands like the pituitary regulate growth through different hormones, and the adrenal glands (cortex and medulla) manage stress and metabolism, they are not the site of goiter [c1][t1]. Goiter can be diffuse, affecting the whole gland, or nodular, involving specific lumps [t2][t4].

Sources

1. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 6: Control and Coordination > Do You Know? > p. 110