About Opentopia

Opentopia Directory Encyclopedia Tools

Thyroglossal duct

Encyclopedia : T : TH : THY : Thyroglossal duct

The thyroglossal duct is an embryological anatomical structure which forms the connection between the initial area of development of the thyroid gland and its final position.

The thyroid gland starts developing in the pharynx in the fetus and descends to its final position taking a path through the tongue, hyoid bone and neck muscles. The connection between its original position and its final position is the thyroglossal duct. This duct normally atrophies and closes off before birth but can remain open in some people.

Failure of the duct to atrophy can lead to thyroglossal cysts which can become infected (uncommon) and thyroglossal duct carcinoma (very rare). In the case of thyroglossal duct carcinoma, the cancerous cells are ectopic thyroid tissue that has been deposited along the thyroglossal duct and usually follows exposure to radiation.

Mammalian embryogenesis/Embryology and Fetal development - [http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit]

Embryo/Carnegie stages: Zygote | Morula | Blastula/Blastomere/Blastosphere | Gastrula/Gastrulation | Neurula | Fetus
General: Archenteron | Blastopore | Hensen's node | Germ layer (Ectoderm, Endoderm, Mesoderm) | Histogenesis | Organogenesis | Branchial arch (1st) | Meckel's cartilage | Somite/Somitomere | Thyroglossal duct | Vitelline duct
Circulatory system: Primitive atrium | Primitive ventricle | Bulbus cordis | Truncus arteriosus | Ostium primum | Foramen ovale | Ductus venosus | Ductus arteriosus | Aortic arches | Septum primum | Septum secundum | Cardinal veins
Nervous system: Neural development/Neurulation | Neural folds | Neural groove | Neural tube | Neural crest | Neuromere | Notochord | Optic vesicles | Optic stalk | Optic cup
Digestive system: Foregut | Midgut | Hindgut | Proctodeum | Rathke's pouch | Septum transversum
Urinary/Reproductive system: Urogenital folds | Urethral groove | Urogenital sinus | Kidney development (Pronephros | Mesonephros | Ureteric bud | Metanephric blastema) | Fetal genital development (Wolffian duct | Müllerian duct | Gubernaculum | Labioscrotal folds)
Uterine support: Placenta | Umbilical cord (Umbilical artery, Umbilical vein, Wharton's jelly) | Amniotic sac (Amnion, Chorion) | Yolk sac | Allantois | Trophoblast (Cytotrophoblast | Syncytiotrophoblast | Gestational sac)

From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.