Organs - Parathyroid gland Flashcards
What are the parathyroid glands?
These are endocrine glands that are located in the anterior neck.
There are responsible for secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH), which acts to increase the level of serum calcium.
What is the anatomical location?
The parathyroid gland are usually located on the posterior aspect of the thyroid gland. They are flattened and oval in shape - situated external to the thyroid itself but within the pretracheal fascia.
Most individuals have four parathyroid glands, although variation in number (from two to six) is common:
1) Superior parathyroid glands (x2) - derived from the fourth pharyngeal pouch. They are located at the middle of the posterior border of each thyroid lobe, approximately 1cm superior to the entry of the inferior thyroid artery into the thyroid gland.
2) Inferior parathyroid gland (x2) - derived from the third pharyngeal pouch. Although inconsistent in location between individuals, the inferior parathyroid glands are usually found near the inferior poles of the thyroid gland.
In a small number of people, the inferior parathyroid glands can be found as far inferiorly as the superior mediastinum.
Vasculature?
The vascular supply is similar to that of the thyroid gland.
Arterial supply is chiefly via the inferior thyroid artery (as this artery supplies the posterior aspect of the thyroid gland - where the parathyroid are located). Collateral arterial supply is from the superior thyroid artery and thyroid ima artery.
Venous drainage is into the superior, middle, and inferior thyroid veins.
Lymphatics?
The lymphatic drainage from the parathyroid glands is to the paratracheal and deep cervical nodes.
Nerves?
The parathyroid glands have an extensive supply of sympathetic nerves derived from thyroid branches of the cervical ganglia.
Note: these nerves are vasomotor, not secretomotor - endocrine secretion of parathyroid hormone is under hormonal control.
Clinical relevance - parathyroid glands and hypoglycaemia?
Due to their location on the posterior aspect of the thyroid gland, the parathyroid glands are at high risk of being damaged or removed inadvertently during thyroid surgery.
This can result in an acute drop in serum calcium - hypocalcaemia. Clinical features include tetany, muscle cramps and paraesthesia of the fingers, toes and mouth.
Because of this risk, it is usually standard post-operative practice to check the parathyroid hormone and serum calcium in all patients following thyroid surgery.
