Lesson 1A (Part 3) Flashcards
How many parathyroid glands do you have?
4
- 2 on each side
Where are the parathyroid glands located?
Two embedded in the posterior surface of each lobe of the thyroid gland
What are the parathyroid glands surrounded by?
Fine connective tissue capsules
When do you see the parathyroid glands in US?
When they are diseased
- otherwise you dont normally see them
What do parathyroid glands secrete?
Parathyroid hormone
- PTH
- parathormone
What is the main function of the PTH?
Is to increase the blood calcium level when it is low
What happens when blood calcium levels fall?
Secretion of PTH is increased
What happens when blood calcium levels rise?
Secretion of PTH is decreased
What 2 things from the thyroid gland act in a complementary manner to maintain blood calcium levels?
- Parathormone
2. Calcitonin
What is maintaining blood calcium levels needed for? (4)
- Muscle contraction
- Nerve transmission
- Blood clotting
- Normal action of many enzymes
FNA
Fine needle aspiration
Fine needle aspiration
Is the procedure of choice in the evaluation of thyroid nodules
What are the benefits to FNA? (3)
- High in accuracy
- Decreased unnecessary operative procedures in patients with benign nodules
- Increased the probability that surgery will be performed on those with malignant disease
What categories can FNA of thyroid nodules be? (6)
- Malignant
- Benign
- Thyroiditis
- Follicular neoplasm
- Suspicious
- Non-diagnostic
What are examples of diagnostic procedures? (4)
- Thyroid glands’ ability to concentrate iodine and certain radioactive isotopes
- Radioactive isotopes (tracers) are swallowed or injected into the bloodstream - taken up by the thyroid gland
- As they decay, a special camera can detect the energy that is released
- creating a picture of the thyroid gland - Distinguish a nodule as hot, warm, or cold
