The Parathyroid Glands
Anatomy of the parathyroid glands:
The parathyroid glands are two pairs of small, oval-shaped glands located adjacent to the thyroid gland on each side of the neck.
Function of the parathyroid glands:
The parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone, which plays a role in the regulation of calcium levels in the blood. Precise calcium levels are important in the human body, since small deviations can cause muscle and nerve impairment.
Parathyroid hormone stimulates the following functions:
- release of calcium by bones into the bloodstream
- absorption of calcium in food by the intestines
- conservation of calcium by the kidneys
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