The Parathyroid!!!!!!!!!!! Par Avery MacNeish

Location location location The four small parathyroid glands, about the size of a grain of rice, are hidden within the larger thyroid gland which is located in front of the trachea.

Hormones secreted by the parathyroid gland Parathyroid Hormone (PTH) The PTH will cause the Ca 2+ levels in the blood to increase and the levels of phosphates to decrease. The Parathyroid hormone does this by acting on these 3 different organs: the kidneys, the intestines and the bones. It makes the kidneys and the intestines absorb more Ca 2+ while promoting Ca 2+ release from the bone. The Ca 2+ levels in the blood will increase, which will then inhibit the release of PTH from the parathyroid gland. the calcium levels signal both the release and inhibition of PTH PTH also helps activate Vitamin D.

Diseases Low levels of vitamin D can cause a disease called rickets. With this, too little calcium and phosphorous are absorbed from certain foods and the bones develop improperly. (hypo- secretion) Hyper-secretion of PTH can also cause problems. The prolonged breakdown of the bone can cause them to become brittle. Also, high levels of calcium could collect in the blood or form little stones in the kidneys.

The Problem Poem The parathyroid is a really great thing But if it makes to much (PTH), it could cause such a sting. In your kidneys it can make stones And absorbing to much calcium, can break your bones With out this gland, you can get rickets And then your leg will develop and become like a crickets Be sure to have this hormone secreting organ Or you could turn out like the kid in the slide