Parathyroid Gland

**Semantic type:** Body Part, Organ, or Organ Component

**Definition:** One of two small paired endocrine glands, superior and inferior, usually found embedded in the connective tissue capsule on the posterior surface of the thyroid gland; these glands secrete parathyroid hormone that regulates the metabolism of calcium and phosphorus. The parenchyma is composed of chief and oxyphilic cells arranged in anastomosing cords.

**Synonyms:** - GLAND, PARATHYROID - Head and Neck, Parathyroid - PARATHYROID GLAND - Parathyroid - Parathyroid - Parathyroid gland - Parathyroid structure (body structure) - parathyroid - parathyroid gland - parathyroid gland