The histology of the parathyroid glands

Position: on the dorsal surface of the thyroid

gland
Developmental origin: the endoderm of the 3rd &
4th pharyngeal pouches
Cell types:
Chief cells
Oxyphil cells
Hormone synthetised: parathyroid hormone
(PTH)
Slide 69, parathyroid gland, H&E, 10x

oxyphil cells

chief cells

capillaries
Slide 69, parathyroid gland, H&E, 40x

chief cells

adipocytes

oxyphil cells
To identify the chief and oxyphil cells
 The histology of the adrenal
(suprarenal) gland
Arrange-
Develop- Hormones Regulating
Regions ment of
mental origin secreted hormones
cells
renin-
z. mineralo-
nests angiotensin
glomerulosa corticoids
system

cortex z. fasciculata straight mesoderm gluco-

ACTH
cords corticoids

irregular sexual
z. reticularis ACTH
cords steroids
ectoderm
cords or adrenalin / sympathetic
medulla (neural
clumps noradrenalin tone
crest)
Slide 70, adrenal gland, H&E, 4x

cortex

medulla

capsule
Slide 70, adrenal gland - cortex, H&E, 10x

z. reticularis

z. fasciculata

z. glomerulosa

capsule
Slide 70, zona glomerulosa, H&E, 40x

endocrine
cells
Slide 70, zona fasciculata, H&E, 40x

endocrine
cells

sinuses
Slide 70, zona reticularis, H&E, 40x

sinuses

endocrine cells
 Adrenal gland medulla:
modified postganglionic neurons

Chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla ~

Postganglionic sympathetic neurons
Slide 70, adrenal gland - medulla, H&E, 40x

sinuses

arteriole

chromaffin cells
Adrenal gland
medulla:
blood supply and
function
Cortical sinuses:
steroid hormone
content
adrenergic cells

Direct arterioles to
the medulla:
nutritive vessels
noradrenergic
cells
To identify the parts of the adrenal gland and the
listed structures:
Cortex:
zona glomerulosa
zona fasciculata
zona reticularis
Medulla: chromaffin cells, sinuses
 The cell types of the islets of Langerhans
(colocalization: Zenker-formol fixation, Mallory-Azan staining)

Cell type A B D D1 F EC

Location peripheral central scattered outside the islets,

in the wall of exocrine
glands

Proportion 15-20 70 5-10

(%)
Hormone glucagon insulin somato- VIP PP secretin,
secreted statin motilin,
substance-
P
Slide 50, pancreas, H&E, 10x

exocrine
pancreas

islets of Langerhans

lobulus
septum
Slide 50, pancreas, H&E, 40x

islet of Langerhans

capillary
To identify the islets of Langerhans
in the pancreas
 The histology of the corpus luteum

Development: Graafian follicle ovulation

Corpus haemorrhagicum
Corpus luteum
Corpus luteum menstruationis
Corpus luteum graviditatis
Corpus albicans
Cell types:
Granulosa-lutein cells
Theca-lutein cells
Slides 71, corpus luteum, H&E, 4x

ovarian cortex

corpus luteum

follicles
Slide 71, corpus luteum, H&E, 10x

theca-lutein cells

granulosa-
lutein cells
Slide 71, corpus luteum, H&E, 40x

theca-lutein cells

granulosa-
lutein cells
To identfy the corpus luteum and its cell
types:
Granulosa-lutein cells
Theca-lutein cells