Parafollicular cell

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753

Parafollicular cells (also called C cells) are cells in the thyroid which produce and secrete calcitonin.

Embryologically, they associate with the ultimobranchial body, which itself is a ventral derivative of the Fourth Pharyngeal Pouch. The Parafollicular cells themselves are derived from Neural Crest cells.

When parafollicular cells become cancerous, they lead to medullary carcinoma of the thyroid.