Histology of the Thyroid and Parathyroid Flashcards
When in gestation does the thyroid gland begin to develop?
4th week
What is the first endocrine gland to appear in the embryo?
Thyroid gland
What part of the developing embryo does the thyroid gland develop from?
Endoderm
When does the thyroid gland begin to function?
End of the 3rd month
What are the three gross anatomical units of the thyroid?
Right lobe
Left lobe
Isthmus
Where, relative to the respiratory system, does the thyroid gland lie?
Inferior to the larynx
What is the thyroid diverticulum?
Inpouching of the primitive oropharynx
What is the thyroglossal duct? What happens to this in development?
The duct that connects the thyroid gland to the oropharynx
Closes in development
What is the pyramidal lobe? IS this a part of normal anatomy?
represents the inferior end of the thyroglossal duct that persists after the remainder of the thyroglossal duct has degenerated
present in about 50% of individuals
What is the thyroglossal duct? What happens if this does not degenerate in embryogenesis?
as the thyroid gland develops and descends into the neck, a hollow duct, the thyroglossal duct forms which temporarily connects the developing thyroid gland to the foramen cecum of the tongue. The thyroglossal duct eventually degenerates and normally disappears, however, in some individuals it may persist as a developmental remnant: a fibrous cord that extends from the fully-developed thyroid gland to the foramen cecum on the dorsum of the tongue
What part of the cervical fascia is the thyroid capsule derived from?
Deep cervical fascia
What type of tissue that comprises the thyroid capsule?
Dense, irregular collagenous tissue
What gives rise to the trabeculae/septa of the thyroid gland? What do these give rise to?
The thyroid capsule
Gives rise to lobules
What do the septa of the thyroid carry?
Blood vessels
Lymph vessels
nerve fibers
Where are the parathyroid glands relative to the thyroid?
Within the capsule covering the posterior surface of the thyroid
What is the function of the thyroid gland?
Synthesizes T3 and T4 and calcitonin
What organ of the body secretes calcitonin?
Thyroid
What is the basic structural/functional unit of the thyroid?
Thyroid follicle
What type of histological structure surrounds the thyroid follicles? What does this consist of?
Basal lamina
Carb substance and reticular fibers
What type of capillary network surrounds the thyroid follicle that allows for easy secretion of thyroid hormone into the serum?
Fenestrated
True or false: the follicle enclosing a lumen is a unique histological structure to the thyroid gland
True
What is the major difference between thyroid gland and other endocrine glands in the way that its hormones are stored/secreted?
Thyroid gland stores its secretory product in a follicle, not within secretory cells
What are the two cells in the epithelium that surrounds the colloid?
Follicular epithelium and principal cells
What types of epithelium surround the follicular lumen if there is low/normal/high thyroid function? (3)
i. simple squamous – low level of activity
ii. simple cuboidal – normal level of activity
iii. simple columnar – highly active
What is the function of calcitonin?
- Inhibits bone breakdown by osteoclasts
- Promotes Ca deposition
What cells in the thyroid synthesize calcitonin? Do these cells participate in the colloid formation/secretion?
Parafollicular cells
Have nothing to do with colloid
What is the nucleus like in the thyroid epithelial cells?
Round to ovoid
What is the cytoplasm like in the thyroid epithelial cells (eosinophilic or basophilic)?
Basophilic
What part of the thyroid cells contain thyroglobulin?
Vesicles
What is the function of the microvilli of the thyroid follicles?
Increase free cell surface and absorption
What are “clear” / “C” cells of the thyroid?
Parafollicular cells
What are parafollicular cells derived from?
Neural crest cells
Where are the parafollicular cells in the thyroid gland?
Wedged between follicles (NOT exposed to the colloid)
What do parafollicular cells contain?
Dense secretory granules
What type of hormone is calcitonin?
Peptide hormone
True or false: calcitonin is secreted continuously at low levels
False–only when there is a problem
Patients with hypercalcemia are treated with what endogenous hormone?
Calcitonin
What can cause a calcitonin deficiency?
Removal of the parathyroid cells/follicles
True or false: a loss of calcitonin is not associated with any disease
True
What cells synthesize thyroglobulin? Where does this go?
Follicular cells
Released into the follicular lumen
Each molecule of thyroglobulin has how many amino acid residues? Which amino acid is this?
120 Y residues
What is the form of I that is in the serum? What about in the follicle?
Iodide (I-) in the serum
Iodine (I) in the follicle