Endocrinology
Parathyroid Glands
Small glands with a big job: what they are, where they sit and why their number varies.
What are the parathyroid glands?
Most people have heard of the thyroid gland, but fewer know about the parathyroid glands. Despite the similar name, they do a different job: they help control the level of calcium in the blood.
The parathyroid glands are tiny, about the size of a pea, and sit just behind the thyroid in the neck. Most people have four of them, two on each side, although some people have fewer or more, and a gland is occasionally found in another place, such as near the oesophagus or in the chest. This variation rarely causes problems unless surgery is needed.
If you have questions about thyroid or parathyroid tests, book a visit with one of our specialists.