parathyroid
UK[ˌpærəˈθaɪrɔɪd]US[ˌpærəˈθaɪrɔɪd]
adj
Relating to or denoting a pair of small endocrine glands situated next to or embedded in the thyroid gland.
n
A parathyroid gland.
Morpheme Breakdown
para
thyroid
para
beside
thyroid
thyroid gland
Etymology
The term "parathyroid" is a modern anatomical compound, formed in the late 19th century from Greek-derived elements. The prefix "para-" (from Greek 'para', meaning "beside, alongside") directly indicates the anatomical position of these glands relative to the primary structure. The root "thyroid" originates from the Greek 'thyreoeidēs', meaning "shield-shaped", which was first applied to the thyroid cartilage because of its resemblance to an oblong shield. Thus, the word's literal construction as "beside the thyroid" provides a perfectly logical and descriptive anatomical label for the small glands located adjacent to the larger thyroid gland.
Analysis
Structure: para (beside) + thyroid (thyroid gland)
para: A prefix of Greek origin meaning "beside, adjacent to, beyond, or altered".
thyroid: A word of Greek origin, from 'thyreoeidēs' meaning "shield-shaped", referring to the thyroid cartilage and gland.
Examples
The surgeon carefully avoided damaging the parathyroid glands during the thyroidectomy.
A disorder of the parathyroid can lead to abnormal calcium levels in the blood.
The primary function of the parathyroid is to secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH).