The epitheliomeral concept of the thyroid gland's structural organization.

Background: The permanent increase in the number of cases of different forms of thyroid pathology requires a deeper study of the thyroid structure and its morphogenetic processes.

Methods: The thyroid glands of Wistar rats were used in a composite study that involved standard light microscopy, semithin sections, silver staining, immunohistochemistry, morphometry, three-dimensional analysis, and computer-assisted three-dimensional reconstruction.

Results: The absolute majority of follicles have from one to seven interfollicular contacts (C) with other neighbouring follicles.