ABSTRACT
Endocrine and thyroid surgeons must be familiar with the embryology, morphology and location of the parathyroid glands. Such knowledge will help to prevent inadvertent excision of normal glands during thyroidectomy and enable the surgeon to conduct a systematic search for enlarged hyperplastic glands during operations for hyperparathyroidism. The unique embryological development and the acquired migration of enlarged parathyroid glands explain why they are often found in various ectopic locations.
