Calcium and Parathyroid Flashcards
How many parathyroid glands are ususally present?
4
however this is variable
Where are parathyroid glands usually located?
posterior to the thyroid glands
can also be locate in the mediastinum?
Blood supply to the parathyroid glands mirror the thyroid glands. True or false
True
What pharyngeal pouch do the inferior parathyroid glands originate from?
pharyngeal pouch III
What pharyngeal pouch do the superior parathyroid glands originate from?
pharyngeal pouch IV
What are the main cell types in the parathyroid glands and their functions?
- chief cells - produces PTH (parathyroid hormone)
- Oxyphil cells- unknown function
Chief cells in stomach produce pepsinogen
What is the speculated function of the oxyphil cells?
may secrete excess PTH in cancer of the parathyroid gland
What is the main function of the parathyroid gland?
calcium homeostasis
Outline reasons why calcium homeostasis is important
- coagulation- factors II, VII, IX, X are dependent on calcium as they are negatively charged
- nerve depolarisation
- skeletal/smooth/cardiac muscle contraction
- enzyme co-factors
- cardiac stability
- bone and teeth
- regulation of hormone secretion
Why is calcium important for cardiac stability ?
- myocyte action potential/cardiac repolarisation cycle
- phase 2 involves a calcium influx which slows down the rate of repolarisation (mediation of repolarisation)
- also allows contraction of the the myocytes to carry on occuring
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. True or false
True
body contains around 1kg of calcium
How is calcium homeostasis achieved?
- bones
- intestines
- kidneys
Bones store 99% of the bodies calcium. How are bones involved in calcium homeostasis?
- bone remodelling under control of PTH/calcitonin
- osteoclasts resorb bone (release calcium into blood)
- osteoblasts synthesise bone
osteoblasts send signals to osteoclasts before bone resorption occurs
When is parathyroid hormone released?
released when plasma/serum calcium levels are too low
When is calcitonin released?
released when plasma/serum calcium levels are too high
released from parafollicular cells
How are the intestines involved in calcium homeostasis?
they are involved in the absorption of calcium ions from the diet
How are the kidneys involved in calcium homeostasis?
majority of filtered calcium is reabsorbed in the kidneys
kidneys also convert inactive vitamin D into active vitamin D (calcitrol)