VARIATION IN NUMBER AND LOCATION OF HUMAN PARATHYROID GLAND -A POSTMORTEM STUDY

Objective - Parathyroid gland, the last important organ to be recognised in humans, has great variation in number and location; mainly attributable to its peculiar embryological developent. The hormone secreted by the parathyroid gland provides a powerful mechanism for controlling extracellular calcium and phosphate concentration. These variation in number and location has important surgical implications in parathyroid disorders. Material and methods- This study was conducted on 60 autopsy specimens in the department of anatomy in collaboration with the department of forensic medicine in post graduate institute of medical sciences, Rohtak. Results- A total 203 parathyroid glands were identified in relation to posterior border of thyroid gland in 60 postmortem specimens. The highest number of parathyroid glands per person was 4 found in 56.66% cases. The lowest was 1 found in 1.66% of cases, 3 parathyroid glands in 26.66% cases and 2 parathyroids in 15% of cases, in none of the case we found more than 4 glands. Out of 203 parathyroid glands, 117 were superior and 86 were inferior. Most of the superior parathyroid glands (73) were found on the middle third of the posterior border of thyroid lobe (62.39%), at upper third it was 43 (36.75%), and 1(0.85%) at lower third. All the 86 inferior parathyroid glands were found at the lower one third of posterior border of thyroid gland. Conclusion: parathyroid glands vary considerably in number, location.