Final answer:
The thyroid gland produces hormones such as triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), which play a crucial role in regulating the body's basal metabolic rate and protein synthesis, under the control of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary gland.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gland that produces hormones such as triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4), primarily influencing basal metabolic rate and protein synthesis, is the thyroid gland. These hormones are critical for regulating the body's metabolism. The production of both T4 and T3 is regulated by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), which is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. TSH production is in turn regulated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), which is produced by the hypothalamus. The thyroid gland, together with the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, form a negative feedback loop that maintains hormone secretion within proper levels. Iodine is an essential component in the production of T3 and T4, and a deficiency can lead to goiter.
A hormone produced by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid is called calcitonin, which is not directly involved with metabolic rate but rather with calcium homeostasis. The pituitary gland is often referred to as the master gland because it regulates the secretion of hormones by other endocrine glands, including the thyroid gland.