EMBRYOLOGI of THYROID GLAND

The thyroid gland is the first endocrine gland to develop in the embryo. It begins to form approximately 24 days after fertilization from a median endodermal thickening in the floor of the primordial pharynx (see Fig. A) This thickening soon forms a small outpouching-the thyroid primordium. As the embryo and tongue grow, the developing thyroid gland descends in the neck, passing ventral to the developing hyoid bone and laryngeal cartilages. For a short time, the thyroid gland is connected to the tongue by a narrow tube, the thyroglossal duct (see Fig B & C). At first the thyroid primordium is hollow, but soon becomes a solid mass of cells and divides into right and left lobes that are connected by the isthmus of the thyroid gland, which lies anterior to the developing second and third tracheal rings By 7 weeks, the thyroid gland has assumed its definitive shape and is usually located in its final site in the neck (see Fig. D). By this time, the thyroglossal duct has normally degenerated and disappeared. The proximal opening of the thyroglossal duct persists as a small pit in the dorsum (posterosuperior surface) of the tongue-the foramen cecum. A pyramidal lobe of the thyroid gland extends superiorly from the isthmus in approximately 50% of people. A pyramidal lobe differentiates from the distal end of the thyroglossal duct and attaches to the hyoid bone by fibrous tissue and/or smooth muscle-the levator muscle of thyroid gland. The thyroid primordium consists of a solid mass of endodermal cells. This cellular aggregation later breaks up into a network of epithelial cords as it is invaded by the surrounding vascular mesenchyme. By the 10th week, the cords have divided into small cellular groups. A lumen soon forms in each cell cluster and the cells become arranged in a single layer around a lumen. During the 11th week, colloid begins to appear in these structures-thyroid follicles; thereafter, iodine concentration and the synthesis of thyroid hormones can be demonstrated. By 20 weeks, the levels of fetal thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxine begin to increase, reaching adult levels by 35 week.

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EMBRYOLOGY of PARATHYROID GLAND

Arise from endoderm in cranial portions of third and fourth pharyngeal pouches. Pouches are bilateral, yielding four parathyroids Cranial third pouches form inferior parathyroids and cranial fourth pouches forms superior parathyroids (picture on left) There are masses of mesenchymal tissue have an ectodermal side on left and endodermal side on right part of the four pharyngeal arch. Between pharyngeal archs, there are four clefts: the first one is the external ectodermal auditary meatis for the hole for hearing; second one is rudimentary; third is the parathyroid gland/thymus (inferior); forth is the parathyroid gland (superior) and ultimobranchial body in which c-cells arise. The third and fourth clefts have a cranial and caudal component (picture on right) Thyroid migrating down over the larynx, the 3rd pharyngeal pouch, migrated down making the inferior parathyroid, the 4th migrates down only a little to make the superior parathyroid. Pharyngeal apparatus is bilaterally symmetric fused in the midline.

References Greenspans Basic and Clinical Endocrinology, 8th edition Langmans Medical Embryology, 9th edition The Developing Human, Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 8th edition

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