Parathyroid gland

The parathyroid gland is four or five small glands located at the back of the neck, behind the thyroid^[1][2]. It is composed of irregular rows of cells^[3].

Function

The parathyroid gland secretes parathyroid hormones (PTH) which regulates calcium in the body^[4]. PTH acts on bone and kidney cells^[5]. In bones, it causes a reduction in new bone formation and dissolution of old bones^[6]. This releases calcium and phosphate into the blood.

PTH also activates vitamin D which increases the absorption of calcium in the small intestine^[7].

References

1. ↑ KT. Patton, GA. Thibodeau. Anatomy and Physiology. 21st ed. St Louis,, Missouri: Elsevier; 2016.
2. ↑ Norman Parathyroid Centre. Parathyroid gland Introduction. Availableat:https://www.parathyroid.com/parathyroid.htm. Accesed on: 24/10/2018.
3. ↑ KT. Patton, GA. Thibodeau. Anatomy and Physiology. 21st ed. St Louis,, Missouri: Elsevier; 2016.
4. ↑ KT. Patton, GA. Thibodeau. Anatomy and Physiology. 21st ed. St Louis,, Missouri: Elsevier; 2016.
5. ↑ KT. Patton, GA. Thibodeau. Anatomy and Physiology. 21st ed. St Louis,, Missouri: Elsevier; 2016.
6. ↑ KT. Patton, GA. Thibodeau. Anatomy and Physiology. 21st ed. St Louis,, Missouri: Elsevier; 2016.
7. ↑ F.Bronner. Mechanisms of Intestinal Absorption. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry.2003;88(2): 387-393. Available at: https://doi.org/101002/jcb.10330. Accessed on: 24/10/2018