Thyroid and parathyroid glands
Learning objectives
This study unit will help you to:
- Describe the anatomy of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.
- Understand the neurovascular supply of the thyroid and parathyroid glands.
- Name the functions of thyroid and parathyroid glands.
Watch videos
The thyroid and parathyroid glands are endocrine organs, located in the neck, anterior and lateral to the trachea and larynx. The thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroid hormones regulating metabolism. It consists of two lobes, an isthmus and pyramidal lobe, all of which are supplied by the superior and inferior thyroid arteries. Venous drainage occurs via the superior, middle, and inferior thyroid veins. The thyroid gland receives sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation from the three cervical sympathetic ganglia and branches of the vagus nerve, respectively.
The parathyroid glands, located on the back of the thyroid gland, participate in regulating blood calcium levels. Their neurovascular supply is similar to that of the thyroid gland.
The following video will provide you with an overview of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, and their neurovascular supply.
Take a quiz
Now that you have watched the video, test your acquired knowledge with our quiz.
For a broader overview, take our custom quiz about the structures of the neck, and choose the topics or individual terms that you want to be tested on.
Browse atlas
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Explore the thyroid and parathyroid glands as well as surrounding structures in the following atlas gallery:
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/thyroid-gland-14/ZdRmcYkHZdXCzlFlL7XS9g_Thyroid_Gland.png "Thyroid gland (Glandula thyroidea); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/right-lobe-of-the-thyroid-gland/1dFmMXO7mcfYDe6CvVHgqA_Right_lobe_of_thyroid_gland.png "Right lobe of thyroid gland (Lobus dexter glandulae thyroideae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/right-lobe-of-the-thyroid-gland-1/BNKdT0Q9rCfyKH2wv4nyWw_Right_lobe_of_thyroid_gland.png "Right lobe of thyroid gland (Lobus dexter glandulae thyroideae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/isthmus-of-the-thyroid-gland-1/2CTuHWwbtk6P7mtodgu12A_Isthmus.png "Isthmus of thyroid gland (Isthmus glandulae thyroideae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pyramidal-lobe-1/9tmPjqFBNBOneZ0588Miw_Pyramidal_lobe.png "Pyramidal lobe of thyroid gland (Lobus pyramidalis glandulae thyroideae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/left-lobe-of-the-thyroid-gland-1/LjXeSFJ7VGL0vcZcsL4ow_Left_lobe_of_thyroid_gland.png "Left lobe of thyroid gland (Lobus sinister glandulae thyroideae); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/parathyroid-gland-1/RNYfpZXCe4GT8PlGLT7wA_Parathyroid_Glands.png "Parathyroid gland (Glandula parathyroidea); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/trachea-27/zGB0kNARZ0E50BMjqpSFQ_Trachea.png "Trachea; Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/thyroid-cartilage-11/MjZHW6AruAnj5rfUTvFzvA_Thyroid_cartilage.png "Thyroid cartilage (Cartilago thyroidea); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/cricothyroid-ligament-1/jNaDVyg2Wq7WreQqkuP6Dw_Cricothyroid_ligament.png "Cricothyroid ligament (Ligamentum cricothyroideum); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/cricoid-cartilage-10/O51y5XaM1QbhgBs2lM57g_Cricoid_cartilage.png "Cricoid cartilage (Cartilago cricoidea); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/cricotracheal-ligament-2/9sSFSz5sv4cU3oJBBLMGkw_Cricotracheal_ligament.png "Cricotracheal ligament (Ligamentum cricotracheale); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/arteria-thyroidea-superior/UH1IPmIyluIuNv9Gj1OVBg_Arteria_thyreoidea_superior_01.png "Superior thyroid artery (Arteria thyroidea superior); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/arteria-thyroidea-inferior/6eJe5jotfQtmkODxn69nQ_A._thyroidea_inferior_01.png "Inferior thyroid artery (Arteria thyroidea inferior); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vena-thyroidea-superior/lIc8s1ka2sI26NEcHLatw_vena-thyroidea-superior.jpg "Superior thyroid vein (Vena thyroidea superior); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vena-thyroidea-media/S8l6qE9Rj4w4SeYDyXg5g_vena-thyroidea-media.jpg "Middle thyroid vein (Vena thyroidea media); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vena-thyroidea-inferior/roe5LKNhFRuWPlDX4eEBA_inferior-thyroid-vein.jpg "Inferior thyroid vein (Vena thyroidea inferior); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ganglion-cervicale-superius/H42F6OPVSQXV9i5oePrw_Ganglion_cervicale_superius_01.png "Superior cervical ganglion (Ganglion cervicale superius); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/ganglion-cervicale-medium/vXxvTtHjfyyJW7fw6lTqgw_Ganglion_cervicale_medius_01.png "Middle cervical ganglion (Ganglion cervicale medium); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/inferior-cervical-ganglion/3ymSEwQri2pRYMQKBrZe5w_Inferior_cervical_ganglion.jpeg "Inferior cervical ganglion (Ganglion cervicale inferius); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Parts |
Thyroid gland: Left and right lobes, isthmus, pyramidal lobe (variably present) Parathyroid gland: Four lentil-shaped glands located on back of each lobe of thyroid gland |
| Neurovascular supply |
Thyroid gland: Arterial supply: Superior thyroid artery (from external carotid artery) and inferior thyroid artery (from thyrocervical trunk), thyroid ima artery may be present occasionally Venous drainage: Superior, middle and inferior thyroid veins which form thyroid plexus Innervation: Three cervical sympathetic ganglia, external branch of superior laryngeal nerve and recurrent laryngeal nerve Parathyroid glands: Arterial supply: Inferior thyroid artery Venous drainage: Thyroid plexus Innervation: Three cervical sympathetic ganglia |
| Functions |
Thyroid gland: Produces thyroid hormones and regulates metabolism Parathyroid gland: Participate in regulating blood calcium levels |
Well done!
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