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]

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.

[1] Gray, Henry 1980. Williams, Peter L & Warwick, Roger (eds) Gray's Anatomy (36th ed). Churchill Livingstone p1453. ISBN 0-443-01505-8

[2] Fehrenbach and Herring 2012. Illustrated Anatomy of the head and neck. Elsevier, p. 159.

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