parathyroid gland Flashcards
location and size of parathyroid gland
4 small glands
-located behind the thyroid
spicy yellow mustard color
function of parathyroid
Regulation of calcium – entire gland system devoted to calcium
calcium provides
electrical energy to nervous system
In regulating calcium levels, phosphorus regulated
indirectly – inverse relationship
phosphorus most important buffering system
in urine
Ca also provide energy fo
muscular system
-if decreased can see tetany
calcium provides strength for
skeletal system
-bones largest storage of Ca
-when body needs calcium breaks down bone
parathyroid hormone secreted by
chief cells of parathyroid glands
Magnesium is often used as
cofactor in enzymatic rxns
-Mg can help PTH do its job
-if low PTH look at mg levels
PTh stimulates osteoclasts to
break down bone and release Ca
-also stimulates calcium reabsorption
Ca activates
vitamin D
-happens in the kidney
PTH turns on and off
calcitonin
-calcitonin will stop PTH
When Ca gets too high
calcitonin will get turned on and will tell PTH to turn off
When Ca too low
calcitonin stays turned off which allows PTH to stay turned on, until levels are corrected
Ca levels in body are
tightly regulated, will not vary much day to day
calcium levels
8.5-10
hyperparathyroidism caused by
1 of 4 glands being diseased
-not uncommon especially in women
symptoms of hyperparathyroidism
○ Moans- pain, tired
○ Bones- breaking down
○ Stones- kidney stones
○ Groans- abdominal groans, rumbling
hyperparathyroidism very significant in
pregnant women
If you are hyper parathyroid, Ca levels are high and developing fetus
will not produce parathyroid gland correctly because baby’s Ca level will also be increased
-they will do surgery on you while your pregnant because safer to remove than have the baby get abnormal parathyroid
treatment of hyperparathyroidism
remove the diseased glands, most of times it is not malignant
hypo parathyroid
Not enough PTH, decrease Ca
causes of hypo parathyroid
○ Autoimmune disease, antibodies against parathyroid hormone
○ If doctor removes wrong gland in surgery
○ Decreased Mg (needed to secrete PTH)
symptoms of hypo parathyroid
○ Tetany, seen more often here (but can see in hyper)
○ If have low Ca levels can have grand mal seizures
calcium monitoring measured with
ionized calcium because not rely albumin
-kept anaerobically
multiple myeloma can affect
ca levels because most tumors start in the bone – increase Calcium and ALP
