PARATHYROID GLANDS 3.

Pharyngeal Pouch 3 –divides

into a superior (or dorsal) and
inferior (or ventral) portion:

dorsal portion of pouch 3:

inferior parathyroid glands –the
chief (or principal)
ventral portion of pouch 3:
thymus

4. Pharyngeal Pouch 4 –also

divides into a superior (or dorsal)
and inferior (or ventral) portion:

The parathyroid glands are two dorsal portion of pouch 4:

pairs of small, oval-shaped glands.
They are located next to the two
thyroid gland lobes in the neck.
Each gland is usually about the size
of a pea.
DEVELOPMENT
 Endodermal proliferation of
3rd and 4th pharyngeal
pouches.
superior parathyroid glands –the
chief (or principal)
ventral portion of pouch 4:
forms a diverticulum called the
ultimobranchial body, the cells of
which migrate into the thyroid
gland and differentiate into
parafollicular (C) cells of the thyroid
gland.

 Dorsal aspect of 3rd – inferior

parathyroid

 Dorsal aspect of 4th pouch –

superior parathyroid

PHARYNGEAL POUCHES

The pharyngeal pouches are

endodermal-lined pockets that
form on the INSIDE of the pharynx
between the arches.

1. Pharyngeal Pouch 1 –auditory

tube and middle ear cavity

2. Pharyngeal Pouch 2 –palatine

tonsil.
 Superior Parathyroid
Embryology

-also known as parathyroid IVs

- the fourth pharyngeal pouch,
differentiates at gestational
weeks 5-6

The fourth pharyngeal pouch forms

Inferior Parathyroid
Embryology
-also known as parathyroid IIIs
-The third pharyngeal pouch
differentiates at gestational
weeks 5-6, with the ventral wing
becoming the thymus.
These structures develop under the
influence of fibroblast growth
factor receptor substrate 2 [FRS2].
the caudal pharyngeal complex,
giving rise to the ultimobranchial
body. Due to this close origin with
the lateral thyroid, the superior
parathyroids are sometimes called
the thyroid parathyroids.
At gestational week 7, the
glands lose connections with the
pharynx and attach themselves to
the thyroid gland, which is
migrating caudally.

This common origin is why the

parathyroid IIIs are often referred
to as the thymic parathyroids
and the two structures are
described as the parathymus.

The thymus and parathyroids both

lose their connections to the
pharynx at gestational week 7.

The thymus then migrates caudally

and medially, pulling the
parathyroids with it; therefore,
parathyroid IIIs are in a more
inferior position than are
parathyroid IVs.

7TH week- Normal position