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Parathyroid Gland

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Color Atlas of Fetal and Neonatal Histology

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Abstract

Studies in mammals have shown that the fetus maintains a plasma calcium concentration that is higher than that of the mother. This high fetal calcium level is essential for the proper development and mineralization of the fetal skeleton, and the fetal parathyroid glands play an important role in this process. Hormones elaborated by the fetal parathyroid gland, including parathyroid hormone-related protein, are required to maintain the fetal calcium gradient created through active placental transport of calcium by syncytiotrophoblast [1]. This chapter focuses on the histological features of the fetal parathyroid glands.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, USA

    Linda M. Ernst MD, MHS (Assistant Professor of Pathology and Director of Perinatal Pathology)

Authors
  1. Linda M. Ernst MD, MHS
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, Northwestern University, 710 N. Fairbanks Court, Chicago, 60611, Illinois, USA

    Linda M. Ernst

  2. Dept. Pathology, Children's Hospital Philadelphia, 324 South 34th St, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Eduardo D. Ruchelli

  3. Dept. Pathology, Children's Hospital Philadelphia, 324 South 34th St, Philadelphia, 19104, Pennsylvania, USA

    Dale S. Huff

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Ernst, L.M. (2011). Parathyroid Gland. In: Ernst, L., Ruchelli, E., Huff, D. (eds) Color Atlas of Fetal and Neonatal Histology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0019-6_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0019-6_20

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-0018-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-0019-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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