MEDISINA HISTOLOGY

P.07 THYROID & PARATHYROID GLANDS

Dr. Manalo | September 8, 2016 | 1st sem

I. THYROID GLAND

 Bi-lobed ductless reddish-brown highly vascular

endocrine gland
 Location: at the anterior neck, extending from
mid-thyroid cartilage up to 6th tracheal ring
 2 lateral lobes are joined midline via isthmus, just
beneath cricoid cartilage at the level of C2-C4
 Pyramidal lobe – present in 30% of the
population, extends upward from the left side of
isthmus
 Size: 5cm in length, 4 cm in width, by 2 cm in
thickness
 Weight: 25-40 grams
 Function: well-defined mechanism for extracellular
storage of thyroid hormones; synthesis, storage
and elaboration of thyroid hormones T3 and T4
o Regulates metabolic rate
o Assignment: To enumerate and briefly
describe the proper sequence of thyroid
hormone synthesis (see subsequent text)

A. HISTOLOGY OF THYROID
1. Capsule o Nerve supply: vasomotor
 Fibro elastic and collagenous connective tissue  Preganglionic parasympathetic
 Derived from cervical fascia, particularly an nerves
extension/reflection of pre-tracheal fascia  Postganglionic sympathetic
 Penetrate into the gland as trabeculae or nerves derived from the
septae, dividing thyroid into lobes or lobules cervical ganglia
 High blood supply = high
2. Parenchyma secretion
 Follicles: structural units (Thyroid follicles)
o Spherical/Ovoid, cyst-like spaces
 Additional important concepts:
o .02mm to 0.9mm in diameter o Follicular epithelium
o Filled with colloid
- Simple cuboidal generally
o Lined by simple epithelium
- Simple squamous/ low columnar
o Sizes are variable (follicles can enlarge
epithelium depending upon the degree
or decrease diameter) but the smaller of glandular activity
follicles predominate - PRINCIPAL CELLS/ FOLLICULAR
o Each follicle has extremely thin
CELLS/ THYROCYTES
basement membrane  Spheroidal nucleus
o Supporting framework: Each follicle  Poor in chromatin
surrounded by reticular tissue  Few, short, irregularly-
containing nerve fibers, blood vessels oriented microvilli
(fenestrated capillaries) lined by  Synthesize T3 and T4
termination of lymphatic capillaries
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MEDISINA
o Colloid
- Dense homogenous gelatinous
material that represents
extracellular storage form of the
secretion of follicular cells
- Contains the following:
 Stored thyroid hormones:
Thyroglobulin (a
glycoprotein)
 Mucoproteins
 Proteolytic enzymes
(separate hormone from its
carrier)
 Desquamated cells
 Macrophages (rare)
Clinical Correlation
THYROTOXICOSIS/ TOXIC GOITER/
EXOPHTHALMIC GOITER
- Cells become taller, have more numerous
microvilli, more organelles (more mitochondria,
larger Golgi bodies, more numerous lysosomes,
more developed endoplasmic reticulum), increase
in size and number
o PARAFOLLICULAR CELLS
- Aka Mitochondria-rich cells/ C-cells
- Origin: Ectoderm/
Neuroectoderm
- Located in the interfollicular spaces
and also in the follicular epithelium
- Pale staining with intensely staining
small nuclei
- Slightly larger than principal cells
- Cytoplasm have brown to black
cytoplasmic granules
- Rich in alpha-glycerophosphate
dehydrogenase
- Secrete THYROCALCITONIN
 decreases serum calcium
levels
 unbranched single
polypeptide chain
 made up of 32 amino acids
 MW: 3,400
B. HISTOGENESIS OF THYROID
 Endodermal origin
 Derived from Foramen Cecum
 Downward extension from the floor of the
pharynx
 Originates from the base of the tongue then
descends into the anterior neck (thyroglossal
duct  thyroglossal tract  may sometimes
give rise to thyroglossal cyst)
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HISTOLOGY
 Thyroid gland begins to function at the 10th
week of fetal life
 Parafollicular C-cells are derived from
ectodermal neural crest/
Neuroectoderm
Clinical Correlation
HYPERFUNCTION(HYPERTHYROIDISM)
HYPOFUNCTION (HYPOTHYROIDISM)
 HYPERTHYROIDISM
 Anterior neck mass  Goiter
 As compared to the normal structure
Normal size: 5 x 4 x 2 cm
Normal weight: 25-40 g each lobe
C. HISTOPHYSIOLOGY OF THYROID
 Thyroid hormones (T3 and T4) regulate
metabolic rate
T3 T4
Triiodothyronine *Tetraiodothyroxine
/Thyroxine
**Less numerous (10%) **More abundant (90%)
4-5 x more potent Less potent
Short acting (1/2 to 2 Longer acting (6 to 7
days) days)
*According to books, T4 is TETRAIODOTHYRONINE
**pertains to the level of circulating hormones in the bloodstream
D. SYNTHESIS OF THYROID HORMONE
1. Iodine trapping /Iodine uptake
2. Thyroperoxidation of iodine-catalyzed
thyroxine by thyroperoxidase
3. Organification
a. iodination of thyroxine
b. oxidative coupling
4. Storage of thyroid hormones in the form of
thyroglobulin; stored in colloid
5. Release of the thyroid hormones
a. Hypothalamus stimulates pituitary gland
by means of Thyrotropin Releasing
Factor (TRF)
b. Pituitary releases Thyroid Stimulating
Hormone (TSH), stimulating the thyroid
gland
c. Thyroid gland releases
T3(Triiodothyronine) and T4(Thyroxine)
6. Release utilization and metabolism of
thyroid hormones
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MEDISINA
II. PARATHYROID GLANDS
 Small ovoid/spherical, yellowish-brown, highly
vascular, ductless endocrine glands
 Location: Posterior surface of thyroid gland
 Normally, there are 4 parathyroid glands usually
located at the middle 3rd of the thyroid (some can
be at the lower 3rd)
 But there may be numerous accessory parathyroid
glands
- About 5-10% of parathyroid are located in
association with the thymus, deep in the
anterior mediastinum
- May be located within the capsule of the
thyroid or embedded in the substance/
parenchyma of the thyroid
- Function: Production of Parathormone
 Size: 3-8mm in length, 2-5mm in width, .5-2mm in
thickness
 Weight: 0.5-3 grams
A. HISTOLOGY OF PARATHYROID
1. Capsule
 Connective tissue that penetrates into the gland
as trabeculae, dividing the gland into lobules
Supporting framework, reticular connective
tissue
2. Parenchyma
 Cell population consists of basically 2 types of
cell arranged in closely compact groups, arcades
or columns:
a. PRINCIPAL CELLS/CHIEF CELLS
 make up the majority of cells population
 polyhedral cells
 less intensely staining (faintly acidophilic)
 7 – 10 microns in diameter
 Vesicular nucleus
 Each cell has single cilium that extends
into narrow canaliculi
 Cytoplasm contains secretory granules
o Lipofuscin pigment
o Glycogen
 Secretes PARATHORMONE
(PARATHYROID HORMONE)
o Increases serum calcium
levels
o Single unbranched polypeptide
chain has no cysteine
o MW: 9,000
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HISTOLOGY
b. OXYPHIL CELLS
 Singly, solitary or in small groups
 Interspersed among the principal cells
 Deeply acidophilic, more intensely
staining
 Dark central nuclei (smaller and more
compact)
 Less in number
 Unknown Function (no hormonal
secretion or secretion is unknown)
Other cells (Minor Type):
 Intermediate oxyphil cells
(between oxyphil and principal cells)
o Aka Water clear cells
 Deeply staining oxyphil cells /
Dark oxyphil cells
3. Stroma
 Supporting framework: reticular connective
tissue
Clinical Correlation
 Increase in size and number of cells in the
following:
o RICKETS – Vitamin D absence
among children  no calcium
reabsorption  weak skeleton
o NEPHRITIS WITH UREMIA
o HYPERPLASIA/ TUMORS
 Great capacity of regeneration
o Complete removal of all parathyroid
glands  tetany (violent muscular
contractions)
o Surgeons can transplant
parathyroid glands in any portion of
the body (will regenerate)
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MEDISINA HISTOLOGY

 With increasing age, the parathyroid gland

II. Arrangement. Using numbers, properly arrange the
exhibits the following changes:
following events in the synthesis of thyroid hormones.
o Increase in connective tissue
Place your answers before the box icon.
including fat cells and mast cells
o Increase in the number of oxyphil
 Thyroperoxidation
cells  Storage
 Oxyphil cells start to  Metabolism
appear at 4.5 to 7 y/o;  Release
increase in number after  Organification
puberty  Iodine uptake
o Parenchymal cells which are normally
in groups/clusters become
cords/columns/ follicles III. Practical Quiz. Answer the following questions by referring
 Follicles start to appear at 1 to the histologic images below.
y/o  increase in number 
colloid formation and
accumulation

B. HISTOGENESIS OF PARATHYROID
Embryonic origin: 3rd and 4th pharyngeal/
branchial pouches

Clinical Correlation
 Grave’s Disease – nodular toxic goiter
 Plummer’s Syndrome – diffuse toxic goiter
 Sjogren’s Syndrome 1.
o General dryness (no secretions) a. What is the type of epithelium in “1”?
o Clinical triad: b. Hormonal synthesis of “1” is immediately stimulated
 Dry eyes by which hormone?
(keratoconjunctivitis) 2.
 Dry mouth (xerostomia) a. What is the major protein carrier in “2”?
 Rheumatoid arthritis b. Leukocytes present are in the form of?

CHECKPOINT!

I. Modified Multiple Choice.

Write
A if the item refers to the Thyroid gland only
B if the item refers to the Parathyroid glands only
C if the item refers to either A or B
D if the item refers to neither A nor B

1. Microvilli
2. Calcitonin
3. Connective tissue capsule 1.
4. Alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase a. What is the predominant cell in this slide?
5. Colloid b. What is the cellular appendage present in “a”
6. Oxidative coupling
7. Neuroectodermal origin
8. Increase serum calcium
9. Vasomotor
10. Proteolytic enzymes
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