Anat. Histol. Embryol. 36, 241–249 (2007)
x
ISSN 0340–2096
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Wrocław, Wrocław, Poland
Topography and Arterial Supply of the Thyroid and the Parathyroid Glands in
Selected Species of Falconiformes
T. Radek1 and T. Piasecki2*
Addresses of authors: 1Department of Anatomy and Histology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of
Wrocław, ul. Ko_zuchowska 1-3, 51-631 Wrocław, Poland; 2Department of Epizootiology and Veterinary Administration with
Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Agricultural University of Wrocław, pl. Grunwaldzki 45, 50-366
Wrocław, Poland; *Corresponding author: e-mail: piatom@op.pl
With 8 figures and 4 tables
Summary
Birds of two suborders, Accipitres and Falcones were the
subjects of the study. The thyroids were always located
asymmetrically. In Accipitridae the larger left gland was usu-
ally situated significantly more cranially than the right one. In
common kestrel, the size of bilateral thyroids was similar while
their mutual relationships were individually variable. The
location of the parathyroid glands in common kestrel was
relatively constant. Seven topographical patterns of the loca-
tion of the parathyroid gland were noted in Accipitridae. In
birds of both the suborders, the thyroid might be supplied by
three (groups of) arteries: the cranial thyroid, the caudal thy-
roid and the middle thyroid arteries. The aforementioned
vessels were derived from the common carotid and the oe-
sophagotracheobronchial artery. In common kestrel, the thy-
roid vessels might also branch from the ascending oesophageal
artery, which passes along the thyroid, while in common
buzzard and other Accipitridae – from the common trunk of
the comes nervi vagi and the ascending oesophageal artery.
The parathyroid glands were supplied by one to three para-
thyroid arteries. The vessels for the cranial parathyroid gland
mostly originated from the caudal thyroid artery, while for the
caudal one – from the oesophagotracheobronchial artery. The
average number of thyroid and parathyroid arteries in com-
mon buzzard was significantly higher than those in common
kestrel.
Introduction
The bilateral avian thyroid is situated right inside the
thoracic inlet or slightly cranially to it. It is placed on the
surfaces of the common carotid and the jugular vein, usually
rostrally to the syrinx and laterally to the oesophagus and
the trachea (Raether, 1964; Cotofan et al., 1970; Feder,
1971; Epple, 1993; Orosz, 1997). The mutual relationships
between the cranial (IV) and the caudal (III) parathyroid
glands and their location against the surrounding organs are
variable and species-specific (Abdel-Magied and King, 1978;
Hess et al., 1990; Epple, 1993; Orosz, 1997). Moreover, they
exhibit, higher than the thyroid, individual intra-species
changeability (Abdel-Magied and King, 1978). Nevertheless,
the avian parathyroid glands are mostly situated next to
each other on the surface of the jugular vein, among the
trachea and the ultimobranchial glands (Epple, 1993; Orosz,
1997).
 2007 Blackwell Verlag
doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.2006.00733.
Received November 2005; accepted for publication June 2006
The evident interspecies differences in either the origins or
the numbers of thyroid and parathyroid arteries reflect the
species-specific changeability of four vessels branching from
the common carotid: the oesophagotracheobronchial and the
ascending oesophageal artery, the comes nervi vagi and the
vertebral trunk (Bhaduri et al., 1957; Raether, 1964; Cotofan
et al., 1970; Baumel, 1993).
The purpose of the study was the morphological and
topographical analysis of glandular arteries and their parent
vessels in common buzzard, rough-legged buzzard, western
marsh harrier, sparrow hawk and common kestrel. The litera-
ture still lacks the information on the morphology of the arterial
system and the endocrine glands in Falconiformes. Accordingly,
the results described in the present paper might improve the
knowledge on this branch of the comparative avian anatomy.
Materials and Methods
Twenty-eight specimens of birds belonging to the two species
(Mielczarek and Cichocki, 1999) were subjected to compar-
ative, descriptive and morphometric study: (i) common
buzzard (Buteo buteo – Accipitres, Accipitridae family, six
females and five males), and (ii) common kestrel (Falco
tinnunculus – Falcones, Falconinae family, seven females and
10 males).
Additionally, descriptive studies were performed in three
single representatives of other species from the Accipitridae
family: rough-legged buzzard (Buteo logopus, one male),
western marsh harrier (Circus aeruginosus, one female) and
sparrow hawk (Accipiter nisus, one female).
All the specimens obtained between 1993 and 1998 were
from the Wrocław Zoological Garden. The arterial system of
birds was accessed via the left heart ventricle or through the
brachial artery and injected with colored latex (latex injection
kit ZPK 580; Griffing & George, West Sussex, UK).
Subsequently, the specimens were fixed in 10% formaldehyde
and dissected under 16–25· magnification using a Technival 2
microscope. The skin and the bilateral sternotracheal muscles
were removed to expose the right and the left glands, the
topography of which was described in relation to the common
carotid, the jugular vein, the trachea and the oesophagus.
Moreover, the topography of the arteries derived from the
common carotid was established (Fig. 1).
Subsequently, the measurements of the thyroid and the
parathyroid glands were taken. Moreover, the distance
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242
Fig. 1. Diagram illustrating the measurements taken bilaterally in all
the specimens studied. Example of the right glands in common kestrel
(A) and in common buzzard (B): a – brachiocephalic trunk, b – sub-
clavian artery, c and c* – common carotid and internal carotid,
respectively, d – oesophagotracheobronchial artery, e – ascending
oesophageal artery, f – vertebral trunk, g – comes nervi vagi, nv – vagal
nerve and its distal ganglion, pth – parathyroid glands, th – thyroid,
vj – jugular vein; 1 – length of the thyroid, 2 – width of the thyroid,
3 – length of both the parathyroid glands, 4 – width of the parathyroid
glands, 5 – distance between the bifurcation of the brachiocephalic
trunk and the caudal extremity of the thyroid.
between the caudal extremity of the thyroid and the bifurca-
tion of the brachiocephalic trunk into the common carotid and
the subclavian artery was determined (Fig. 1). Morphometry
was carried out with the aid of an electronic scaled calliper
(mm)2). Mean values from three independent measurements
were calculated for each parameter to ensure the reproduci-
bility of results obtained.
Empiric or mean measurement values enabled the drawing
of the schemes of the species-specific topographical relations
among the thyroid, the parathyroid glands, the glandular
arteries and their parent vessels in Falconiformes (Fig. 2). The
bilateral asymmetry of the thyroid location in common kestrel
and common buzzard was expressed with the Van Valen (1962)
coefficient figured out from 1 ) R2 formula.
The following criteria were considered in the course of
morphological and topographical analysis of the thyroid and
the parathyroid arteries: (i) origin, number and ramification
pattern, (ii) topography before entering the glands, described
in relation to the surrounding organs, and (iii) the region in
which they drained the glandular parenchyma.
All the measurement results were subjected to statistical
analysis. The statistical significance of differences in bilateral
measurements taken in common buzzard or in common kestrel
was tested using Student’s t-test, whereas the importance of
bilateral or inter-species differences in the average number of
thyroid or parathyroid arteries observed was verified with the
chi-squared test (P £ 0.05 for both the tests employed).
Results
In birds of both the suborders, the thyroid was located
inside the cranial thoracic inlet, cranially from the syrinx.
Its medial surface adjoined the common carotid and the
jugular vein. Moreover, the right gland adhered to the
oesophagus, whereas the left one to the trachea. Mean
Radek and Piasecki
measurements of the left thyroid in common buzzard
(5.69 · 3.52 mm ± 0.48 · 0.41 mm) were significantly higher
than of the right one (4.98 · 3.23 mm ± 0.53 · 0.28 mm). In
common kestrel, in turn, the sizes of the bilateral thyroids were
not significantly different (3.24 · 2.29 ± 0.18 · 0.20 mm and
3.26 · 1.86 ± 0.23 · 0.15 mm for left and right gland,
respectively).
The bilateral thyroids were situated asymmetrically in all the
birds studied. In common buzzard, as well as in other
Accipitridae, the left gland was placed more cranially than
the right one (directional asymmetry, the coefficient of
asymmetry in common buzzard ¼ 0.98; Fig. 2). Accordingly,
the mean distance between the caudal extremity of the thyroid
and the bifurcation of the brachiocephalic trunk was signifi-
cantly different when compared bilaterally (9.34 ± 0.90 mm
and 6.86 ± 0.75 mm for left and right side, respectively).
Analogical differences were found to be insignificant in
common kestrel (4.71 ± 0.72 mm and 4.55 ± 0.54 mm for
left and right side, respectively). The bilateral asymmetry in
gland location appeared relatively weak and fluctuating (the
coefficient of asymmetry ¼ 0.47; Fig. 2). A more cranial
location of the left thyroid was observed in seven birds, while
in another five specimens the right thyroid was situated more
cranially (Fig. 3). In the remaining kestrels the bilateral
thyroids were located at a similar level.
Interspecific and individual variability of the unilateral and
the bilateral parathyroid gland topography in relation to the
thyroid, the common carotid and the jugular vein is illustrated
in Fig. 4. The unilateral parathyroid glands were usually
placed next to each other by the caudal end of the thyroid or
slightly more caudally. The separate location of each gland
was noted infrequently (Figs 4 and 5). The size of the left
glands was slightly higher than that of the right ones in all the
species studied (2.86 · 1.69 mm and 2.52 · 1.42 mm for the
left and the right parathyroid glands of common buzzard and
1.62 · 0.84 and 1.36 · 0.61 mm for the left and the right
parathyroid glands of common kestrel, respectively).
In the thyroid and parathyroid region, both the common
carotids gave rise directly or indirectly to four large vessels: the
oesophagotracheobronchial, the comes nervi vagi, the ascend-
ing oesophageal arteries and the vertebral trunk. In common
kestrel and in common buzzard some topographical relation-
ships among the aforementioned vessels and the glands studied
were found to be species-specific (Fig. 2). They are presented in
Fig. 2, in addition to the patterns observed in the single
representatives of other species analysed. The individual
variability of thyroid and parathyroid vasculature noted in
common buzzard and common kestrel is illustrated in Fig. 6.
The oesophagotracheobronchial artery branched from the
medial (the right one) or the dorsolateral (the left one) side of
the respective common carotid, caudally to the thyroid and the
parathyroid glands or at the level of the latter. It usually began
as an individual vessel in common buzzard and other
Accipitridae (Figs 2, 5, 6 and 7). In most of the kestrels
however, it left the carotid as a common trunk with the
ascending oesophageal artery (Figs 2 and 3). It passed caudally
in all the specimens studied to supply the bronchus and the
preventricular part of the oesophagus with its terminal
ramifications.
In its initial course, the oesophagotracheobronchial artery
gave rise to the branches for the trachea, the oesophagus and
the syrinx (the single one in Accipitridae – Figs 2 and 7, one to
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Arteries of Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands 243

Fig. 2. Ventral view of thyroid and the parathyroid glands against the background of the arterial pattern in A – common kestrel (most common
pattern), B – common buzzard (most common pattern), C – rough-legged buzzard, D – western marsh harrier and E – sparrow-hawk:
a – brachiocephalic trunk, b – subclavian artery, c – common carotid and internal carotid, d – oesophagotracheobronchial artery, d¢ – tracheal
and syringical branches, e – ascending oesophageal artery, e¢ – oesophageal branches, f – vertebral trunk, g – comes nervi vagi, g* – common
trunk of the comes nervi vagi and the ascending oesophageal artery, i – suprascapular artery, j – parathyroid artery, k – caudal thyroid artery,
l – middle thyroid artery, m – cranial thyroid artery.

three branches in common kestrel – Figs 3 and 8). The thyroid
(Table 1) and the parathyroid arteries, as well as the vessels for
the vagal nerve and its distal ganglion, the carotid body and
the ultimobranchial glands ramified laterally from the afore-
mentioned branches or originated directly from the oesoph-
agotracheobronchial artery.
The origin and course of the comes nervi vagi and the
ascending oesophageal artery were species-specific (Fig. 2). In
common kestrel, the bilateral comes nervi vagi left the
vertebral trunk or the common carotid at the level of the
cranial extremity of the thyroid. The further course and the
ramifications of that vessel are illustrated in Fig. 2 (more
frequent pattern) or in Fig. 6 (individual variants). The
ascending oesophageal artery usually ramified from the
oesophagotracheobronchial artery, caudally to the thyroid or
at the level of its caudal part (Figs 4 and 6). It passed along the

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244
A middle and the cranial third of the neck, anastomosed with the
B specimens of common kestrel, among them in nine specimens
Fig. 3. A – Ventral view of the thoracic inlet in common kestrel
(male), B – right thyroid and parathyroid region (most commonly
observed arterial pattern): 1 – thyroid (the lateral surface of the left one
and the medial surface of the right one), 2 – cranial parathyroid glands,
2¢ – caudal parathyroid gland, 3 – oesophagus, 4 – trachea, 4¢ – syrinx,
5, 5¢ – vagal nerve and its distal ganglion, 6 – brachial plexus,
a – brachiocephalic trunk, b – subclavian artery, c – common
carotid, c¢ – internal carotid, d – oesophagotracheobronchial artery,
d¢ – tracheal and syringical branches, e – ascending oesophageal artery,
e¢ – oesophageal branches, f – vertebral trunk, g – comes nervi vagi,
i – suprascapular artery, j – parathyroid artery, k – caudal thyroid
artery, l – middle thyroid artery, m – cranial thyroid artery.
medial surface of the thyroid sending the thyroid arteries and,
directly or indirectly, the parathyroid arteries (Fig. 3). Finally,
it anastomosed with the descending oesophageal artery in the
middle of the neck.
In common buzzard and other Accipitridae the comes nervi
vagi and the ascending oesophageal artery originated bilater-
ally as a common trunk leaving mostly the common carotid
(Figs 2 and 6) or less frequently, the oesophagotracheobron-
chial artery (Fig. 6). The topography of the initial part of the
trunk described was similar to that of the ascending oesopha-
geal artery in common kestrel (with the exception of western
marsh harrier; Fig. 2) and similarly the vessel gave rise to the
thyroid and the parathyroid arteries (Figs 2, 5 and 7). The
bifurcation of the common trunk was found cranially to the
thyroid. The left trunk gave rise to the relatively small, single
ascending oesophageal artery, which in the middle of the neck
anastomosed with the descending oesophageal artery. The
right trunk in turn gave rise to a number of anastomosing
oesophageal branches, one of which, branching between the
Radek and Piasecki
right descending oesophageal artery (Fig. 7).
The bilateral thyroids might be supplied by three types of
thyroid arteries of various origin (Tables 1 and 2). There was
at least one cranial thyroid artery on each side in common
buzzard (Table 2). It originated from the common trunk of the
comes nervi vagi and the ascending oesophageal artery. The
left cranial thyroid artery ramified above the bifurcation of the
aforementioned trunk and might originate either from the
comes nervi vagi or from the ascending oesophageal artery
(Fig. 5). The right cranial thyroid artery in turn might be
derived either from the common trunk described or from one
of its oesophageal branches (Table 1, Fig. 7). Each of the
multiple cranial thyroid arteries originated from different of
the latter branches (Fig. 2).
The cranial thyroid artery (arteries) was demonstrated in 13
bilaterally (Table 2). It usually originated from the ascending
oesophageal artery (Table 1; Figs 2 and 3).
The origin of the cranial thyroid artery (arteries) was found
at the level of the cranial extremity of the thyroid (short vessel)
or more cranially (long vessel). In the latter case, before
reaching the gland surface, the cranial thyroid artery passed
caudally along the common carotid. The cranial thyroid artery
gave rise to the thymic branch (Fig. 8) and on the right side in
western marsh harrier, also the oesophageal one (Fig. 2). On
the surface of the thyroid the cranial thyroid artery ramified
into minute, medial and lateral branches, which drained the
cranial, and in some specimens also the middle one-third of the
gland.
In all the birds studied, there was at least one bilateral
caudal thyroid artery (Table 2, Fig. 2). In common kestrel, the
vessel described originated mostly from the ascending oeso-
phageal artery (Figs 3 and 8) and, more rarely, from the
oesophagotracheobronchial artery (Table 1). The caudal thy-
roid artery was the only arterial supply for the left and right
thyroid in five and two birds, respectively. In such cases the
caudal thyroid artery passed along the gland, giving rise to the
caudal, the middle and the cranial thyroid branches.
In common buzzard, the caudal thyroid artery mostly
branched from the common trunk of the comes nervi vagi and
the ascending oesophageal artery. The right vessel might either
originate from the oesophagotracheobronchial artery, whereas
the left one, directly from the common carotid.
In both the species analysed, the caudal thyroid artery
(arteries), originating from the oesophagotracheobronchial
artery or from the common carotid and in two buzzards – also
from the left common trunk of the comes nervi vagi and the
ascending oesophageal arteries (Fig. 5), was Ôthe long vesselÕ.
Its origin was found caudally to the thyroid. In its course to
the thyroid, the caudal thyroid artery supplied the parathyroid
glands, the carotid body and the ultimobranchial glands
(Figs 3, 5, 7 and 8). The Ôshort arteriesÕ in turn, originated from
the ascending oesophageal artery in common kestrel or from
the common trunk of the comes nervi vagi and the ascending
oesophageal artery in common buzzard (Figs 3, 5 and 7). At
the level of the caudal extremity of the thyroid, the caudal
thyroid artery gave rise to the parathyroid branch(es), which
passed caudally, and the cranial thyroid branch. Subsequently,
the caudal thyroid artery (arteries) ramified into the minute
subcapsular branches, which drained the caudal and the
middle two-thirds of the thyroid. The multiple caudal thyroid
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Arteries of Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
Fig. 4. Topographical patterns (A–H) of parathyroid glands in individual species.
Fig. 5. Left thyroid and parathyroid region in common buzzard (fe-
male): 1 – thyroid (lateral surface), 2 – cranial parathyroid gland
(medial surface), 2¢ – caudal parathyroid gland (lateral surface),
3 – oesophagus, 4 – trachea, 5, 5¢ – vagal nerve and its distal ganglion,
vj – jugular vein, c – common carotid, d, d* – oesophagotracheo-
bronchial artery and its tracheal branch, e – ascending oesophageal
artery, f – vertebral trunk, g, g* – comes nervi vagi and the common
trunk of the comes nervi vagi and the ascending oesophageal artery,
h – cervical ascending cutaneous artery, i – suprascapular artery,
j – parathyroid artery, k – caudal thyroid artery, l – middle thyroid
artery, m – cranial thyroid artery.
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245
arteries originated, each separately, from the same or from
various of the aforementioned larger vessels.
At least one middle thyroid artery was observed bilaterally
in eight common buzzards and in five common kestrels. It was
however absent or present unilateral only in the remaining
specimens (Table 2). Instead of the single one, the middle
thyroid artery might appear as a double vessel and in common
buzzard even as a triple vessel. The artery described belonged
to the Ôshort vesselsÕ. It originated at the level of one-third of
the thyroid, from the ascending oesophageal artery in common
kestrel, or from the common trunk of the comes nervi vagi and
the ascending oesophageal artery in common buzzard, and
entered the glandular parenchyme nearly directly (Table 1,
Figs 2, 3, 5 and 7). The origins, the courses and the parental
vessels for the arteries of rough-legged buzzard, sparrow hawk
and western marsh harrier are presented in Fig. 2.
The bilateral thyroids might be supplied by one to three
single or multiple thyroid arteries (Table 1, Fig. 2). In the
first variant, observed in six common kestrels (in one bird –
bilaterally) and on the right side in western marsh harrier, the
gland was supplied by the caudal thyroid artery (arteries)
(Fig. 2). In another one the thyroid was drained by two types
of vessels: the cranial and the caudal thyroid artery (arteries)
or the latter accompanied by the middle thyroid artery
246 Radek and Piasecki

Fig. 6. Individual variations of main arteries in left and right thyroid and parathyroid region of common kestrel and common buzzard:
a – brachiocephalic trunk, b – subclavian artery, c – common carotid, d – oesophagotracheobronchial artery, d¢ – tracheosyringical branch,
e – ascending oesophageal artery, e¢ – oesophageal branches, e* – descending oesophageal artery, f – vertebral trunk, g, g* – comes nervi vagi and
the common trunk of the comes nervi vagi and the ascending oesophageal artery, h – cervical ascending cutaneous artery, i – suprascapular artery.

(arteries). The situation described occurred predominantly in arteries in common buzzard and common kestrel was
common kestrel (Fig. 8). In common buzzard in turn the individual-specific, their average counts on both sides were
thyroid was mostly supplied by all three types of the thyroid significantly lower in the latter species (P £ 0.05). The
arteries (Figs 5 and 7). Although the number of the thyroid bilateral differences in number of the vessels studied were

Table 1. Number of birds in which the thyroid arteries originated from the particular parental vessels

Right side Left side

Arteries Acc Otb Cnv+Oea Cnv Oea (rea) Acc Otb Cnv+Oea Cnv Oea (rea)

Buteo buteo
Cranial thyroid 0 0 4 4 5 0 0 6 5 6
Caudal thyroid 1 5 8 0 0 4 0 10 0 1
Middle thyroid 0 0 8 0 1 0 0 5 0 5
Falco tinnunculus
Cranial thyroid 1 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 1 9
Caudal thyroid 0 9 0 0 10 3 8 0 1 15
Middle thyroid 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 6

Acc – common carotid, Otb – oesophagotracheobronchial artery, Cnv+Oea – common trunk of the comes nervi vagi and the ascending
oesophageal artery, Cnv – comes nervi vagi, Oea – ascending oesophageal artery (or rea – the right oesophageal branch).

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Arteries of Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands 247

A Table 2. Number of birds with the single or multiple cranial, caudal

and middle thyroid arteries

Right arteries Left arteries

Common Common Common Common

buzzard kestrel buzzard kestrel
(n ¼ 11) (n ¼ 17) (n ¼ 11) (n ¼ 17)

Cranial thyroid artery

One artery 3 7 2 9
Two arteries 4 3 5 1
Three arteries 2 2 2 0
Four arteries 0 0 2 0
Five arteries 1 0 0 0
Six arteries 1 0 0 0
B Absent 0 5 0 7
Caudal thyroid artery
One artery 6 14 5 6
Two arteries 4 3 4 10
Three arteries 1 0 1 1
Four arteries 0 0 1 0
Middle thyroid artery
One artery 5 7 3 4
Two arteries 0 4 1 2
Three arteries 3 0 5 0
Absent 3 6 2 11

Fig. 7. A – lateral view of right cervical area in common buzzard

(female), B – right thyroid and parathyroid region (most common
arterial pattern): 1 – thyroid, 2 – parathyroid glands, 3 – oesophagus,
4, 4¢ – trachea and syrinx, 5, 5¢ – vagal nerve and its distal ganglion,
6 – brachial plexus, a – brachiocephalic trunk, b – subclavian artery,
c – common carotid, d – oesophagotracheobronchial artery,
d¢ – tracheosyringical branch, e – ascending oesophageal artery,
e¢ – oesophageal branches, e* – descending oesophageal artery,
f – vertebral trunk, g, g* – comes nervi vagi and the common trunk of
the comes nervi vagi and the ascending oesophageal artery, h – cervical
ascending cutaneous artery, h* – cervical descending cutaneous artery,
i – suprascapular artery, j – parathyroid artery, k – caudal thyroid
artery, l – middle thyroid artery, m – cranial thyroid artery.

however not demonstrated in any of the aforementioned

species (Table 1).
The cranial and the caudal parathyroid glands were usually
supplied by one to two arteries (Fig. 2). In five common
buzzards however (left side ¼ 3, right side ¼ 1, both sides ¼
1), one or both the parathyroid glands were drained by three to
six vessels (Table 3).
Among the parathyroid arteries observed, the vessels sup-
plying only one gland [the cranial (IV) or the caudal (III)
parathyroid artery] and the common artery for both the glands
of one side were distinguished. The common parathyroid
artery was demonstrated on the left side in 21 specimens (23
vessels) and on the right side – in 18 birds (19 vessels). The
three types of course and ramification were observed for the
common parathyroid artery. The aforementioned vessel
mostly reached the unilateral glands at their contact point
(11 vessels in 11 birds and nine vessels in eight birds on left and
right side, respectively). In the other variant, however, the
common artery drained one of the glands sending its terminal
branches to another (eight vessels in six birds, and seven
vessels in seven birds on left and right side, respectively).
Fig. 8. Left thyroid and parathyroid region in common kestrel
(female). One of rare arterial patterns: 1 – thyroid, 2, 2¢ – cranial and
caudal parathyroid glands, 3 – oesophagus, 4, 4¢ – trachea and syrinx,
5 – vagal nerve, 6 – brachial plexus, 7 – ultimobranchial gland,
a – brachiocephalic trunk, b – subclavian artery, c – common carotid
artery, d – oesophagotracheobronchial artery, d¢ – tracheal branch,
e – ascending oesophageal artery, f – vertebral trunk, g – comes nervi
vagi, g* – common trunk of the comes nervi vagi and the ascending
oesophageal artery, i – suprascapular artery, k – caudal thyroid artery, l
– middle thyroid artery, m – cranial thyroid artery, n – thymic branch.
Finally, the common parathyroid artery might divide into the
branches for the cranial (IV) and the caudal (III) parathyroid
before reaching their surface (in four and three birds on left
and right side, respectively). Moreover, in two common
kestrels the parathyroid glands of one side were supplied by
the double common parathyroid arteries (in one bird bilater-
ally and on the left side in another). On the left side they both
ramified as described for the second variant, whereas on the
right, one of the arteries followed the first variant, while
another, the third pattern. The parathyroid arteries usually
originated from the caudal thyroid or the oesophagotracheo-

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248 Radek and Piasecki

Table 3. Number of the parathyroid arteries supplying the single (III types was previously described in hen, duck and goose
or IV) or both the parathyroid glands (III and IV) on left and right side (Raether, 1964; Cotofan et al., 1970) and, more recently, in
in common buzzard and in common kestrel
budgerigar (Radek and Piasecki, 2004). The average number
Right Left of the thyroid arteries on each side was significantly higher in
common buzzard when compared with common kestrel.
Glands Buzzard Kestrel Buzzard Kestrel According to Komárek et al. (1982) and Baumel (1993) the
thyroid is supplied by one artery in most birds. Such a vascular
Cranial parathyroid (IV)
One artery 7 13 5 14 model was demonstrated in Columba (Bhaduri et al., 1957) as
Two arteries 2 4 4 3 well as in Rhea, Spheniscus, Gavia, Podiceps, Cygnus, Fulica,
Three arteries 0 0 1 0 Apus, Trogon and Corvus (Baumel, 1993). The results of
Four arteries 2 0 0 0 present study in Falconiformes and our previous investigations
Five arteries 0 0 1 0
Total 11 17 11 17
in budgerigar (Radek and Piasecki, 2004) suggest that the
Caudal parathyroid (III) single thyroid artery (or the group of multiple arteries)
One artery 4 13 4 14 observed in some birds corresponds to the caudal thyroid
Two arteries 6 4 3 3 artery. The latter was found to be the most stable, considering
Three arteries 0 0 3 0 either the occurrence or the area it supplied: the ultimobran-
Four arteries 1 0 0 0
Six arteries 0 0 1 0 chial glands, the parathyroid glands, the oesophagus and the
Total 11 17 11 17 distal ganglion of vagal nerve (Raether, 1964; Cotofan et al.,
1970; Abdel-Magied and King, 1978; Baumel, 1993; Radek
and Piasecki, 2004). In the present study, the arterial model
bronchial artery (Figs 3, 5 and 7). Hardly ever they ramified with the one thyroid artery was demonstrated in six common
from the other arteries, like from the common trunk of the kestrels (in three of them, bilaterally) and in one western marsh
comes nervi vagi and the ascending oesophageal artery in harrier. According to Baumel (1993), either the single thyroid
common buzzard (Figs 5 and 7). The average number of the artery or the caudal thyroid artery originates directly from the
parathyroid arteries in common buzzard was significantly common carotid. That regularity was however not proved in
higher than in common kestrel (P £ 0.05). our study. The thyroid was supplied by two or three arteries
(or their groups) in the birds studied. The dual arterial supply
of the thyroid has been described in some Columbidae,
Discussion galliformes, seagulls and flamingos, thus far (Baumel, 1993),
Seventeen common kestrels and 11 common buzzards were whereas the gland drained by the cranial, the caudal and the
subjected to the study of the topography and the vasculature middle thyroid arteries is characteristic for Anatidae, Gallus
of the thyroid and the parathyroid glands. Comparative and Columba (Cotofan et al., 1970; Baumel, 1993). The
analysis was extended to the results obtained in other three common buzzard, and plausibly also the rough-legged buz-
specimens of Accipitridae – one rough-legged buzzard, one zard, might be enumerated to the latter group on the basis of
western marsh harrier and one sparrow hawk, on the basis of our study. High individual variability in the arterial model of
their similarity to common buzzard in question of the thyroid the thyroid vasculature and the significant asymmetry of
location and in topographical patterns of large vessels origin- relevant vessels was in turn demonstrated in common kestrel.
ating from the bilateral common carotids. It is very likely that the discrepancies in question of the
The bilateral thyroids were located asymmetrically in the thyroid artery models and their origin result exactly from the
Falconiformes studied, as described in house birds (Raether, individual variability in specific avian species. The aforemen-
1964; Breit et al., 1998). The glands on the left side in tioned differences however might easily reflect the diverse
Accipitridae were usually larger and situated more cranially interpretation of the results obtained by various authors. For
than those on the right. The location of thyroid in accipitrids instance, the cranial thyroid artery in Anatidae was reported to
followed the phenomenological criterion of directional asym- originate either from the ascending oesophageal artery (Coto-
metry. In common kestrel in turn, the mutual relationships of fan et al., 1970) or from the comes nervi vagi (Raether, 1964).
the bilateral thyroids were variable corresponding to fluctu- The study of Cotofan et al. (1970), lacks the data on the
ating asymmetry (Van Valen, 1962; Watała and Markowski, topography of the comes nervi vagi artery, whereas in that of
1999). Raether (1964) the analogous information on the ascending
Either the topography of the bilateral parathyroid glands in oesophageal artery is missing. Consequently, it is hard to
relation to the thyroid or the unilateral mutual relationships comment on the results of both of these authors. Moreover, it
between the cranial and the caudal glands were similar as should be remembered that the comes nervi vagi and the
described in most birds (Raether, 1964; Cotofan et al., 1970; ascending oesophageal artery might branch as a common
Abdel-Magied and King, 1978; Hess et al., 1990). The high trunk in some avian species (Bhaduri et al., 1957; Baumel,
variability in the topography of the aforementioned glands in 1993; Radek and Piasecki, 2004) and it was so in the accipitrids
the accipitrids studied, reflected in the seven variants of the in the present study. The discrepancies also deal with the origin
parathyroid gland location, among them six occurring in of the caudal thyroid artery in domestic hen. According to
common buzzard, is however worthy of attention. The relevant Abdel-Magied and King (1978), the aforementioned vessel
literature lacks the data on such individual variations in the ramifies from the common carotid and, after giving rise to
parathyroid gland topography in other avian species. some branches to the thyroid, continues as the ascending
The thyroid might be supplied by three single or multiple oesophageal artery. Cotofan et al. (1970) however, revealed
thyroid arteries: the cranial, the caudal and the middle ones. that the caudal thyroid artery originates from the ascending
The occurrence of the multiple vessels of the aforementioned oesophageal as one of two or three thyroid-supplying vessels.

 2007 Blackwell Verlag

Arteries of Thyroid and Parathyroid Glands
Nevertheless, the results of present study on the separation
variants and the number of parathyroid branches in Falconi-
formes analysed are in general consonant with the relevant
data for domestic birds (Raether, 1964; Cotofan et al., 1970;
Abdel-Magied and King, 1978).
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