Thyroid epithelial cell
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
![](/images/b/b0/Gray1176.png)
Thyroid epithelial cells (also called follicular cells or principal cells) are cells in the thyroid gland which produce and secrete thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3).
They are simple cuboidal epithelium[1] and are arranged in spherical follicles surrounding colloid.
They have thyrotropin receptors on their surface, which respond to thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Embryologic origin is from endoderm (in contrast to parafollicular cells, below).
Relationship to other cell types
Calcitonin-producing parafollicular cells (C cells) can be found scattered along the basement membrane of the thyroid epithelium. Embryologic origin is from neural crest cells.
References
External links
- Template:AnatomyAtlasesMicroscopic
- Histology image: 14302loa – Histology Learning System at Boston University