The ultimopharyngeal body, or ultimobranchial body or ultimobranchial gland is a small organ found in the neck region of many

animal Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Biology, biological Kingdom (biology), kingdom Animalia (). With few exceptions, animals heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, ...

s. In humans, it develops from the fourth pharyngeal pouch into the

parafollicular cell Parafollicular cells, also called C cells, are neuroendocrine cells in the thyroid. They are called C cells because the primary function of these cells is to secrete calcitonin. They are located adjacent to the thyroid follicles and reside in the ...

s of the

thyroid The thyroid, or thyroid gland, is an endocrine gland in vertebrates. In humans, it is a butterfly-shaped gland located in the neck below the Adam's apple. It consists of two connected lobes. The lower two thirds of the lobes are connected by ...

to produce

calcitonin Calcitonin is a 32 amino acid peptide hormone secreted by parafollicular cells (also known as C cells) of the thyroid (or endostyle) in humans and other chordates in the ultimopharyngeal body. It acts to reduce blood calcium (Ca2+), opposing the ...

. It may not develop in

DiGeorge syndrome DiGeorge syndrome, also known as 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, is a syndrome caused by a microdeletion on the long arm of chromosome 22. While the symptoms can vary, they often include congenital heart problems, specific facial features, frequent ...

Structure

The ultimopharyngeal body is a small organ of the neck. It is found in many animals. In humans, it develops into other tissues.

Development

In humans, the ultimopharyngeal body is an embryological structure, and is a derivative of the ventral recess of the fourth pharyngeal pouch. It is technically from the fifth pharyngeal pouch, but this is rudimentary and merges with the fourth. It develops into the

s of the

. The cells that give rise to the parafollicular cells are derivatives of

endoderm Endoderm is the innermost of the three primary germ layers in the very early embryo. The other two layers are the ectoderm (outside layer) and mesoderm (middle layer). Cells migrating inward along the archenteron form the inner layer of the gastr ...

. Endoderm cells migrate and associate with the ultimopharyngeal body during development.

Function

In humans, the ultimopharyngeal body develops into the

s of the

. These secrete

. In other animals, the ultimopharyngeal body may produce calcitonin.

Clinical significance

The ultimopharyngeal body may not develop in

History

The ultimopharyngeal body may also be known as the ultimobranchial body or the ultimobranchial gland.

References

External links

* * {{Authority control Embryology Endocrine system anatomy Human head and neck