Parathyroid gland

Oxyphil cells, the minor cell type found in the parathyroid gland, are diagnostic for this gland.  They can be clearly distinguished from the principal cells by their larger size and abundant, eosinophilic cytoplasm, due to large numbers of mitochondria present.  Oxyphil cells occur singly or, as seen here, in small accumulations among the chief cells.  Oxyphil cells appear at the onset of puberty; however, their function remains uncertain. 200x

Oxyphil cells, the minor cell type found in the parathyroid gland, are diagnostic for this gland.  They can be clearly distinguished from the principal cells by their larger size and abundant, eosinophilic cytoplasm, due to large numbers of mitochondria present.  Oxyphil cells occur singly or, as seen here, in small accumulations among the chief cells.  Oxyphil cells appear at the onset of puberty; however, their function remains uncertain. 200x

This image was taken of a slide on the Virtual Microscopy Laboratory website (www.histologyguide.com).