Calcium and its control Flashcards
What is normal serum calcium conc.?
2.2 - 2.6 mM
What are the different forms of serum calcium?
Free ionised calcium
Bound to plasma proteins
Bound to citrate
What is the concentration of free ionised calcium in the blood?
1 - 1.3mM
Which form of serum calcium is the biologically active one?
Free ionised calcium is biologically active
What is the mass of calcium in a human adult?
1kg = 1000g
Where is most of the calcium in the human body contained?
Bones forming the skeleton
In what form is calcium stored in bones?
Calcium hydroxyapatite crystals
What is the function of the skeleton? Which function is more improtant?
Structural support
Reserve of calcium - priority
How does the skeleton act as a reserve of calcium?
Exchange of calcium phosphate between the bones and the interstitial fluid
- bones release it
- bones take it up
What is the normal daily intake of calcium?
1g
How is calcium lost from the body? How much?
Urinary loss - 175mg
GI loss - 825mg
altogether 1g is lost
What are the molecules involved in the regulation of calcium levels?
Parathyroid hormone
Vitamin D
Calcitonin
What types of cells is the parathyroid gland made up of? Which cells form most of it?
Chief cells - form most of parathyroid gland
Oxyphil cells
What do chief cells look like?
Darker pink
Visible nuclei
Less cytoplasm
What do oxyphil cells look like?
Lighter pink
More cytoplasm
What additional structures do the parathyroid glands have?
Outer capsule
Inner adipose tissue
What is the function of chief cells?
Produce PTH
How often is PTH synthesised?
Continuously
How often is PTH stored?
Not stored
What type of hormone is PTH?
Polypeptide hormone
What is the structure of PTH?
Straight chain
Briefly outline how PTH is produced
Pre-pro-PTH is produced
cleaved twice to remove signal peptide, remove other parts of it
to give PTH
How is PTH carried in the blood?
Is water-soluble
dissolves in plasma
What is the half life of PTH?
Approx 5 mins - relatively short