Parathyroid

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The parathyroid glands (Latin: Glandulae parathyroideae ), also known as epithelial bodies , are small endocrine glands found in mammals and birds . There are two pairs of organs, a total of four epithelial bodies, which in humans are about the size of a lens and are located back and to the side of the thyroid lobes. They form the parathyroid hormone (parathyroid hormone), a hormone which, among other things, helps regulate the calcium level in the blood.

The parathyroid glands, Gld. Parathyroideae (structures colored orange) in their anatomical position; View of dorsal

anatomy

A distinction is made between an outer and an inner epithelial body. Both are in pairs. In birds there can also be three pairs (e.g. in the chicken ). Healthy parathyroid glands weigh between approximately 30 mg in men and 35 mg in women. These glands are not visible and cannot be felt on physical examination. The parathyroid glands are named because of their proximity to the thyroid gland, but have nothing to do with it functionally. In addition, this positional relationship to the thyroid is particularly pronounced in humans, but in many mammals the position is much more variable (in carnivores directly next to each other, in herbivores separated), which is why the term epithelial body is preferred in comparative anatomy .

The outer or upper epithelial body ( glandula parathyroidea externa / superior ) arises embryonically from the fourth pharynx of the gill arch . In some species it is relatively far from the thyroid gland , in horses in front of the breast entrance, in cloven-hoofed animals at the junction of the carotid artery .

The inner or lower epithelial body ( glandula parathyroidea interna / inferior ) arises from the third pharynx and is usually located in, in humans often slightly below the thyroid gland.

The epithelial bodies are surrounded by a delicate connective tissue capsule from which fine septa emanate. The epithelial cells are arranged like strands. The main cells produce parathyroid hormone (PTH). Parathyroid hormone, as an antagonist of calcitonin , increases the calcium concentration in the blood by indirectly activating osteoclasts . In addition to the main cells, there are oxyphilic cells , the number of which increases with age. Their function is not known. The main function of the parathyroid glands is to keep the body's calcium and phosphate levels within a narrow range.

Each epithelial cell is arterially supplied by its own artery, namely the parathyroid artery. This comes from a thyroid artery, in most cases the lower thyroid artery .

Examination of the parathyroid glands

To measure the function of the parathyroid gland, the following values ​​are determined:

Further investigation options are

Parathyroid disorders

Autonomic adenoma of the parathyroid gland is the most common cause of hyperparathyroidism

The most important disease of the parathyroid gland is hyperfunction, hyperparathyroidism (HPT). The most common causes are tumors and hyperplasia of the glandular tissue. Both benign adenomas or malignant adenocarcinomas can occur. When house dog a third of parathyroid tumors are about malignant.

Underfunctions of the parathyroid gland are less common ( hypoparathyroidism , parathyroid insufficiency); these are usually iatrogenic , e.g. As after thyroid surgery or oversupply of vitamin D . Autoimmune diseases can also trigger hypoparathyroidism. The symptom is a deficiency in parathyroid hormone, which can lead to hypocalcemia with cramps ( tetany ) and heart failure.

literature

  • Hugo Černý, Uwe Gille: epithelial bodies, parathyroid glands, parathyroid glands. In: Franz-Viktor Salomon et al. (Hrsg.): Anatomie für die Tiermedizin. 2nd, expanded edition. Enke-Verlag , Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8304-1075-1 , pp. 628-629.
  • Ludwig Weissbecker: Diseases of the parathyroid. In: Ludwig Heilmeyer (ed.): Textbook of internal medicine. Springer-Verlag, Berlin / Göttingen / Heidelberg 1955; 2nd edition, ibid. 1961, pp. 1051-1060.

Web links

Wikibooks: Parathyroid  - Learning and Teaching Materials

Individual evidence

  1. ^ SJ Johnson: Best Practice No 183: Examination of parathyroid gland specimens . In: Journal of Clinical Pathology . tape 58 , no. 4 , April 1, 2005, p. 338-342 , doi : 10.1136 / jcp.2002.002550 .
  2. ^ MJ Fehrenbach, SW Herring: Illustrated Anatomy of the Head and Neck . Elsevier , 2012, p. 159 .
  3. ^ Otto Westphal , Theodor Wieland , Heinrich Huebschmann: life regulator. Of hormones, vitamins, ferments and other active ingredients. Societäts-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1941 (= Frankfurter Bücher. Research and Life. Volume 1), p. 23.
  4. ↑ K. Joes, M. Kessler: Parathyroid Tumors - Clinical Characteristics and Postoperative Management in 13 Dogs. In: Small Animal Practice. 55 (2010), p. 650.