Anatomy of Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands Flashcards
Describe the thyroid gland?
bow-tie shaped thryroid producing hormone
What kind of cells make up the thyroid?
follicular and parafollicular cells
Follicular cells synthesize?
- thyroxine 2. tetraiodothyronine - T4 3. triiodothyronine - T3
Function of the hormones synthesized by follicular cells?
- controls how quickly the body uses energy and makes proteins 2. controls how sensitive the body should be to other hormones
Parafollicular cells synthesize?
calcitonin
Function of calcitonin?
lower calcium - antagonistic in action to parathyroid hormone
What is the first endocrine gland to develop in an embryo?
thyroid gland
When does the throid gland first appear?
3 - 4 weeks
What does it appear as?
as an epithelial proliferation on the floor of primordial pharynx – endoderm
Where does it appear?
at the level of 2nd pharyngeal arch, at base of tongue
Describe the course of the thyroid gland in development?
- Thyroid descends through thyroglossal duct, connected to the tongue (foramen cecum) 2. migrates to the base of the neck
Parafollicular cells are derived from?
derived from ultimobranchial (ultimopharyngeal) body - from 4th pharyngeal pouch endoderm (also believed to have been derived from neural crest cells)
What happens to the ultimopharyngeal body?
join primordial thyroid gland during its decent to its final location in the anterior neck
Where is the thyroid located?
cervical region
Describe the relations of the thyroid in the cervical region?
- anterior to the larynx in the neck 2. inferior to the thyroid cartilage (Adams apple) - at the same level as the cricoid cartilage
Describe the structure of the thyroid?
2 lobes united by an isthmus - one lobe on either side of the trachea
What covers the thyroid?
fibrous sheath
Which muscles cover the thyroid?
- anterioly - infrahyoid muscles 2. laterally - sternocleidomastoid muscles
Describe the posterior relations of the thyroid?
- posterior suspensory ligament of Berry - the gland is fixed to the cricoid and tracheal cartilages and cricopharyngeus muscle by a thickening of the fascia
Describe the posterior lateral relations?
carotid sheath - 1. common carotid artery 2. external carotid artery 3. internal jugular vein 4. vagus nerve
Describe the medial relations?
- larynx 2. trachea 3. inferior constrictor of pharynx 4. esophagus 5. cricothyroid muscle 6. laryngeal nerve
Describe the relations of the isthmus?
- anteriorly - sternothyroid’s, sternohyoids, anterior jugular veins, fascia and skin 2. posteriorly - 2nd to 4th rings of trachea; terminal branches of thyroid arteries