Part of “CHAPTER 48 – MORPHOLOGY OF THE PARATHYROID GLANDS“

In normal adults, the total weight (mean ± standard deviation) of all parathyroid tissue is 120 ± 3.5 mg in men and 142 ± 5.2 mg in women.4 (If both the parenchyma and fat are included in total gland weight, the weights are more variable.) Densitometry measurements show that parenchymal cell mass accounts for 74% of parathyroid gland weight.1,5 Variations in parathyroid gland weights are found between males and females and between blacks and whites.6 The size of the parathyroid glands ranges from 2 to 7 mm in length, 2 to 4 mm in width, and 0.5 to 2.0 mm in thickness. The glands are kidney bean shaped, soft, and brown to rust colored—although color varies with fat content, degree of vascular congestion, and the number of oxyphil cells present.1,4