Parathyroid glands
Parathyroid glands are small endocrine glands in the neck of humans and all tetrapods ,embedded in the posterior surface of the Thyroid glands .[1]
Function
These glands produce parathyroid hormones (PTH). This has an important role in controlling the amount of calcium in blood and bones. Calcium is an important element in our body: it is the only element with its own control system (the parathyroid glands).
Structure
There are two pairs of parathyroid glands, just behind the thyroid glands. Each gland is about 6 mm long and 3–4 mm wide. Parathyroid glands get their blood supply from the inferior thyroid arteries.[2]
Parathyroid Glands Media
3D medical animation image showing hyperparathyroidism (right)
High magnification micrograph. H&E stain. The small, dark cells are chief cells, which are responsible for secreting parathyroid hormone. The cells with orange/pink staining cytoplasm are oxyphil cells
Gross pathology of a parathyroid gland (white arrow), next to the thyroid gland
References
- ↑ Gray, Henry 1980. Williams, Peter L & Warwick, Roger (eds) Gray's Anatomy (36th ed). Churchill Livingstone p1453. ISBN 0-443-01505-8
- ↑ Fehrenbach and Herring 2012. Illustrated Anatomy of the head and neck. Elsevier, p. 159.