PARATHYROID GLAND

Dr. R. Kalliecharan
 Location and Histology
• Is located on posterior surface of
Thyroid
• Composed of 1 pr of superior glands
(which arise from endoderm of 4th
pharyngeal pouch) and 1 pr of inferior
glands (from 3th pharyngeal pouch ).
• Histology---2 cell types
 Cell Types
• 1) Principal (Chief) cells secrete PTH
• ( parathyroid hormone)
• 2) Oxyphil cells –function unknown,
has acidophilic cytoplasm, many mito.
And pyknotic nuclei.
 Chief Cells
• Low Ca++ in blood causes PTH secretion from
chief cells
• PTH acts on osteoclasts via osteoblasts to
increase Ca++ in blood from bone
• PTH acts on Kidneys to(a) ↑ Ca++ in blood
• And(b) cause the formation of Vit D (calcitriol)
which ↑ intestinal absorption of Ca++