Article
Article
Parathyroid gland
Article By:
Dossel, William E. Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska.
Clark, Nancy Barnes Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut.
Last reviewed:August 2019
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.489100
An endocrine organ usually associated with the thyroid gland. Embryologically, the glandular primordia are formed in the endoderm of the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches and are associated with the similarly derived primordia of the thymus. There may be from one to three pairs of the small glands present in individuals of the various vertebrate classes, although two pairs appear most frequently. They are characteristically within, on, or near the thyroid gland. In response to lowered serum calcium concentration, a hormone is produced which promotes bone destruction and inhibits the phosphorus-conserving activity of the kidneys. See also: Thyroid gland
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