Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Parafollicular cell
Introduction
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.
External links
External links
- Histology at University of Southern California end/c_27
- Template:OklahomaHistology
- Histology image: 14302loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University
- Histology at KUMC endo-/endo10
- Template:AnatomyAtlasesMicroscopic
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753