2024-04-17 16:02:26
And everyone probably knows about the thyroid gland. Some have undergone thyroid tests, while others have been diagnosed with a thyroid disorder, such as hypothyroidism.
Let the name not mislead you – the role of the parathyroid glands is not related to the functioning of the thyroid gland. The linguistic similarity is determined by anatomical features, ie the glands are located in the human neck.
The parathyroid glands are about the size of a pea. Although four parathyroid glands are normally present, about 13 percent fewer people have them, and 5 percent – more. Some people have parathyroid glands in other parts of the body, such as near the esophagus or in the chest. These differences rarely matter unless surgery is needed to remove one or more of them.
What do parathyroid glands do?
Parathyroid (PTH) is a hormone produced by the parathyroid gland. PTH has several functions:
– Regulates calcium levels. Calcium is a mineral that performs many important functions: for example, it keeps bones strong, allows nerves and muscles to function normally, and ensures that blood clots as it should. Higher levels of PTH in the blood result in increased calcium levels.
– Phosphorus regulation. Among other functions, this mineral is a major component of our DNA, bones and teeth. Phosphorus activates key enzymes in the body, including those necessary for cell reproduction and survival. It also helps ensure nerve and muscle function.
– Vitamin D regulation. This vitamin helps maintain normal calcium levels in the body by controlling how much calcium is absorbed from food in the intestines and how much is lost in the urine. Remember PTH? This hormone regulates the production of an enzyme that converts inactive vitamin D into its active form.
PTH, secreted by the parathyroid glands, helps maintain the balance of these nutrients. For example, if blood calcium levels drop, the parathyroid glands begin to produce more PTH. Higher levels of PTH stimulate the bones to release stored calcium into the blood and also signal the kidneys to excrete less calcium in the urine.
What happens if the calcium level in the blood increases? The parathyroid glands then produce less PTH, which helps regulate blood calcium levels.
What diseases are associated with the parathyroid glands?
The most common are:
– Hyperparathyroidism. This is a condition where the parathyroid glands produce more PTH than normal. This may be due to a benign or cancerous tumor in one gland or due to overactivity of several glands. It can also be due to other reasons, such as low blood calcium, insufficient vitamin D or kidney failure.
When there is too much PTH, calcium levels in the blood can become dangerously high and phosphorus levels can be low. Surgery may be recommended to remove the overactive gland or glands.
– Hypoparathyroidism. This rare condition is diagnosed when PTH is produced less than normal. The most common causes are previous neck surgery, autoimmune disease, or low magnesium levels.
Why do we rarely hear about the parathyroid glands?
This is because they usually do their work without noise and fanfare. Although parathyroid disorders are not rare, they are uncommon enough that most people never hear about them.
The thyroid gland is one of the many parts of our body that are extremely important to our health, but remain overlooked and underappreciated because they do their job so well.
Patient health.harvard.edu inf.
2024-04-17 16:02:26