Parathyroid Glands Essay

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The parathyroid glands are four tiny glands, located in the neck, that control the body's calcium levels. Each gland is about the size of a grain of rice (weighs approximately 30 milligrams and is 3-4 millimeters in diameter). The parathyroids produce a hormone called parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTHPTH - parathyroid hormone raises the blood calcium level by: 1: breaking down the bone (where most of the body's calcium is stored) and causing calcium release 2: increasing the body's ability to absorb calcium from food 3: increasing the kidney's ability to hold on to calcium that would otherwise be lost in the urine. Normal parathyroid glands work like the thermostat in your home to keep blood calcium levels in a very tightly controlled range. When the blood calcium level is too low, PTH is released to bring the calcium level back up to normal. When the calcium level is normal or gets a little too high, normal parathyroids will stop releasing PTH. Proper calcium balance is crucial to the normal functioning of the heart, nervous system, kidneys, and bones. The parathyroid glands are usually located in the neck behind the thyroid gland, although there are exceptions. While the baby is developing inside the mother's womb, the four parathyroids travel from the head area down to the lower neck, and usually end up near the thyroid gland. However, the parathyroid glands may not always follow this path and may end up in other locations in the neck or chest, called "ectopic" locations. About 90% of parathyroid glands are found in normal locations. For the upper (superior) parathyroid glands, the normal location is next to and slightly behind the upper part of the thyroid gland. The upper parathyroid glands may also drop down next to the esophagus (the first part of the digestive tract that carries food from the mouth to the stomach) or into the chest, and can very rarely be

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