Parafollicular cell

Parafollicular cell
Microscopic section of the thyroid showing follicles lined by follicular epithelial cells, and in between them larger parafollicular cells.
Details
Location	Thyroid
Function	Calcitonin secretion
Identifiers
TH	H3.08.02.4.00009
FMA	68653
Anatomical terms of microanatomy [edit on Wikidata]

Parafollicular cells, also called C cells, are neuroendocrine cells in the thyroid. They are called C cells because the primary function of these cells is to secrete calcitonin.^[1] They are located adjacent to the thyroid follicles and reside in the connective tissue. These cells are large and have a pale stain compared with the follicular cells. In teleost and avian species these cells occupy a structure outside the thyroid gland named the ultimopharyngeal body.