parathyroid

American  

[par-uh-thahy-roid] / ˌpær əˈθaɪ rɔɪd /

adjective

1. situated near the thyroid gland.

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noun

1. parathyroid gland.

parathyroid British  

/ ˌpærəˈθaɪrɔɪd /

adjective

1. situated near the thyroid gland

2. of or relating to the parathyroid glands

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noun

1. See parathyroid gland

Etymology

Origin of parathyroid

First recorded in 1895–1900; para- ¹ + thyroid

Example Sentences

When he arrived in Massachusetts for his first fellowship studying parathyroid hormone, Habener found a ready source of thyroid glands to study from a local Cambridge slaughterhouse that supplied calf meat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 29, 2025

Each parathyroid gland is covered by connective tissue and contains many secretory cells that are associated with a capillary network.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In the presence of decreased blood glucose levels, insulin is produced by the parathyroid to increase calcium absorption.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The parathyroid and thyroid glands of the endocrine system detect changes in blood calcium levels.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

It has just recently been shown that these organs, such as the thyroid, the pituitary, the suprarenal, the parathyroid and the reproductive glands, exercise an all-powerful influence upon the course of individual development or deficiency.

From The Pivot of Civilization by Sanger, Margaret