Which arches give rise to the parathyroid glands?

• A. The superior parathyroids arise from the 3rd pharyngeal pouch and inferior parathyroids from the 4th pouch
• B. Parathyroid glands develop from neural crest cells independent of pharyngeal pouches
• C. Inferior parathyroids arise from the 3rd pharyngeal pouch and superior parathyroids from the 4th pouch
• D. Parathyroids arise from the 2nd pharyngeal pouch

Answer: (C)