Parathyroid Pathology Flashcards
The parathyroid glands are derived from what embryological structures?
upper pair from fourth pharyngeal pouch
lower pair from third pharyngeal pouch
What organ do the parathyroid glands descend with?
the thymus
Unrelated, but what happens to the first pharyngeal groove and pouch?
forms inner ear
What happens to the 2nd pharyngeal pouch?
it gets obliterated by the tonsils
What happens to the 5th pharyngeal pouch?
the ultimoibranchial body
What are the two types of cells in the parathyroid gland?
the chief cells and the oxyphil cells
the water clear cells?
What are the 5 main actions of PTH?
- increased bone resorption
- increased renal reabsorption of calcium
- increased renal excretion of phosphate
- increased renal conversion of vitamin D to its active form
- Increased gut absorption of calcium
All of these actions serve to do what?
increase serum calcium
So why does PTH activate vitamin D?
- it stimulats gut to absorb more calcium
- it helps PTH get the calcium out of bone
- It stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb calcium
What enzyme in the liver converts vitamin to 25 (OH)D?
25 hyroxylase
What enzyme in the kidney converts 25(OH)D into active 1,25(OH)2D?
alpha-1 hydroxylase
What controls PTH release?
free calcium
low serum calcium triggers PTH synthesis and release
So what will hyperparathyroidism cause?
hypercalcemia
What are 4 other common causes of hypercalcemia?
- malignancy = metastases or PTH-related protein
- vitamin D overdose
- Thiazide diuretics (reduce excretion)
- Milk-alkali syndrome
What is the MD PIMPS ME mnemonic for hypercalcemia?
Malignancy
Diuretics
Parathyroidism Idiopathic Megadose of vitamin D Paget disease Sarcoidosis
Milk-alkali syndrome
Endocrine (thyrtoxicosis)
What is the most common cause of SYMPTOMATIC hypercalcemia?
malignancy
What is the most common cause of ASYMPTOMATIC hypercalcemia?
hyperparathyroidism
Wht is primary hyperparathyroidism a problem of?
the parathyroid gland itself (usually an adenoma)