Superior parathyroid gland

Looks like

A rice-grain-sized gland usually on the back of the upper thyroid, more constant in position than the lower one.

What it does

Makes parathyroid hormone, which keeps blood calcium steady.

Keeping it well

A benign adenoma causes most high-calcium cases and is removed by surgery. Tingling lips after thyroid surgery need prompt attention.

Related conditions

• 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DiGeorge)
• Adrenal insufficiency (Addison's)
• Congenital hypothyroidism
• Down syndrome (trisomy 21)
• Hyperparathyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism & Graves' disease
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Hypothyroidism
• Menopause & perimenopause
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Postnatal depression
• Thyroid cancer
• Thyroid nodules & goitre
• Thyroiditis (Hashimoto's & subacute)
• Turner syndrome
• Type 1 diabetes