Thyroglossal duct
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At the time the article was created Frank Gaillard had no recorded disclosures.
View Frank Gaillard's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Calum Worsley had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
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The thyroglossal duct is an epithelium-lined connection between the foramen cecum and the thyroid that forms during the descent of the thyroid during embryological development. It usually involutes in the 8th-10th week of gestation.
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Gross anatomy
The thyroglossal duct arises from proximal primitive foregut between the first and second pharyngeal pouches at the foramen cecum, located at the junction of the anterior two thirds and posterior third of the tongue 1. From there it passes anterior to the body of the hyoid bone, curving backwards and superiorly to reach behind the bone before once more turning inferiorly and continuing to the isthmus of the thyroid. The pyramidal lobe, if present, marks this point. The tip of the duct bifurcates, forming the two lobes of the gland. The parafollicular cells (C cells) responsible for calcitonin production are derived from separate tissue, the ultimobranchial body, a small diverticulum of the fourth pharyngeal pouch.
Variant anatomy
The thyroid may halt at any stage during its descent or leave rests of thyroid tissue along the course of the thyroglossal duct 2:
Related pathology
Failure of obliteration of the duct may lead to the formation of a thyroglossal duct cyst.
References
- 1. Foley D & Fallat M. Thyroglossal Duct and Other Congenital Midline Cervical Anomalies. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2006;15(2):70-5. doi:10.1053/j.sempedsurg.2006.02.003 - Pubmed
- 2. Ranade A, Rai R, Pai M et al. Anatomical Variations of the Thyroid Gland: Possible Surgical Implications. Singapore Med J. 2008;49(10):831-4. - Pubmed
- 3. Branstetter B, Weissman J, Kennedy T, Whitaker M. The CT Appearance of Thyroglossal Duct Carcinoma. AJNR Am J Neuroradiol. 2000;21(8):1547-50. PMC7974032 - Pubmed
- 4. Last, R. J., McMinn, R. M. H.. Last's Anatomy, Regional and Applied. (1994) ISBN: 044304662X - Google Books
- 5. Susan Standring. Gray's Anatomy. (2015) ISBN: 9780702052309 - Google Books
Incoming Links
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Hypertrophied residual thyroid tissue along thyroglossal tract following previous thyroidectomy
- Thyroglossal duct fistula
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Thyroglossal duct cyst with pre-epiglottic space extension
- Thyroglossal duct sinus
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Thyroglossal duct sinus
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Marine-Lenhart syndrome
- Thyroglossal duct cyst
- Thyroglossal duct (diagram)
- Congenital hypothyroidism - lingual thyroid
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