Editing Parafollicular cell (section)

{{Short description|Neuroendocrine cells in the thyroid}}
{{Infobox cell
| Name        = Parafollicular cell
| Latin       =
| Image       = Tiroides 03 100X.JPG
| Caption     = Microscopic section of the thyroid showing follicles lined by follicular epithelial cells, and in between them larger parafollicular cells.
| Image2      =
| Caption2    =
| Precursor   =
| System      =
| Location = [[Thyroid]]
| Function = [[Calcitonin]] secretion
}}
'''Parafollicular cells''', also called '''C cells''', are [[neuroendocrine cell]]s in the [[thyroid]]. They are called C cells because the primary function of these cells is to secrete [[calcitonin]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Parafollicular Cell - an overview {{!}} ScienceDirect Topics |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/parafollicular-cell#:~:text=Structure%20and%20Function,are%20present%20in%20parafollicular%20positions. |access-date=2024-02-03 |website=www.sciencedirect.com}}</ref> 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 [[Thyroid epithelial cell|follicular cells]]. In [[teleost]] and avian species these cells occupy a structure outside the thyroid gland named the [[ultimopharyngeal body]].