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Embryology of the Parathyroid Glands

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Parathyroid Gland Disorders

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Abstract

During the fifth–sixth weeks of gestation, the endoderm of the dorsal surface of the third pharyngeal pouch differentiates into the inferior parathyroid glands (PTGs), while the ventral surface differentiates into the thymus. The endoderm of the dorsal wing of the fourth pouch differentiates into the superior PTGs, while the ventral wing differentiates into the ultimo-branchial body. By the seventh week of gestation, the inferior and superior PTGs migrate inferiorly and medially until they get arrested on the dorsal side of the caudal thyroid. The superior glands end up on the posterior surface of the thyroid gland. The thymus/parathyroid primordium continues to move in a caudal-ventral-medial direction toward the anterior thoracic cavity. During this time, the parathyroid domain remains attached to the cranial pole of the thymus. This chapter describes, in detail, development of the PTG, its origin, its organogenesis, molecular regulators, differentiation, survival, and stability. In addition, this chapter addresses the thymus/parathyroid connection as well as parathyroid hormone and related protein.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt

    Mahmoud F. Sakr

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  1. Mahmoud F. Sakr
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Sakr, M.F. (2022). Embryology of the Parathyroid Glands. In: Parathyroid Gland Disorders. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07418-9_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-07418-9_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-07417-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-07418-9

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