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parathyroid
One of 4 endocrine glands adjacent to the thyroid gland in the neck.
Occasionally, a parathyroid gland may undergo aberrant embryonic migration & occur in the mediastinum.
Function:
- the parathyroid gland secretes parathyroid hormone (PTH).
- cell types:
- chief cells
- more numerous
- 6-8 microns diameter, polygonal, round nuclei
- secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH)
- most sensitive to ionized calcium
- oxyphil cells
- minor portion of parathyroid gland
- 12 micron diameter
- acidophilic cytoplasm due to mitochondria
- not known to have secretory role
- water clear cell
- chief cell with excessive glycogen
- abundant clear cytoplasm
Pathology:
- parathyroid adenomas are benign tumors secreting PTH, resulting in hypercalcemia
- Surgical removal of all 4 parathyroids may result in profound & refractory hypocalcemia
Related
parathyroid disease
parathyroid hormone; parathormone; parathyrin (PTH)
General
endocrine gland
References
http://pathologyoutlines.com/parathyroid.html
Component-of
neck
Images
image related to parathyroid