Ultimobranchial body

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Ultimobranchial body
Precursor fourth pharyngeal pouch
Gives rise to parafollicular cells
MeSH Ultimobranchial+body
Dorlands/Elsevier b_17/12191704

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

In humans, the ultimobranchial body is an embryological structure that gives rise to the calcitonin-producing cells—also called parafollicular cells or clear cells—of the thyroid gland. In humans, this body is a derivative of the ventral recess of the fourth pharyngeal pouch.

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