What will be the effect if parathyroid gland of human is removed?
Parathyroid glands are four small glands of the endocrine system which regulate the calcium in our bodies. Parathyroid glands are located in the neck behind the thyroid where they continuously monitor and regulate
blood calcium levels. Parathyroid glands control the calcium levels in our blood, in our bones, and throughout our body. Parathyroid glands regulate the calcium by producing a hormone called Parathyroid Hormone (PTH). Calcium is the most important element in our bodies (we use it to control many organ systems), so calcium is regulated more carefully than any other element. In fact, calcium is the only element with it's own regulatory system -- the
parathyroid glands. Where are Parathyroid Glands located?Parathyroid glands (we all have 4 of them) are normally the size of a grain of rice. Occasionally they can be as large as a pea and still be normal. The four parathyroids are located behind the thyroid and are shown in this picture as the mustard yellow glands behind the pink thyroid gland. Normal parathyroid glands are the color of spicy yellow mustard. The light blue tube running up the center of the picture is the trachea (wind pipe). The voice box is the pink structure at the top of the picture sitting on top of the trachea. The carotid arteries are shown on both sides of the thyroid running from the heart up to the brain. NOTE: we are looking at the back side of the thyroid so we can see the parathyroid glands. Remember, the parathyroids are behind the thyroid. Also note that this drawing shows three small (normal) parathyroid glands and one big diseased one--this is the typical situation of a patient with parathyroid disease--one of the parathyroid glands grows into a tumor and makes too much hormone. If you have parathyroid disease, you very likely have 3 normal parathyroid glands the size of a grain of rice and one parathyroid tumor that is as big as an olive, grape, or even a walnut. If you have parathyroid disease (hyperparathyroidism) you will need an operation to remove the one parathyroid gland which has become a tumor. More about parathyroid disease on other pages...this page is about NORMAL parathyroid function. One more introductory note... We must make sure you understand that the thyroid and parathyroid are NOT related. Although they are neighbors and both are part of the endocrine system, the thyroid and parathyroid glands are otherwise unrelated--they do not have the same function--just similar and confusing names! The Role of Calcium in the Human Body... and how the Parathyroid Glands Control All Calcium Levels in our Bodies.First a word about CALCIUM and what it does in our bodies. We use many elements in our bodies to perform all the different functions of life. Calcium is essential to life, and is used primarily for three things:
Thus, calcium is the most closely regulated element in our bodies. In fact, calcium is the ONLY element / mineral that has its own regulatory system (the parathyroid glands). There are no other glands in our bodies that regulate any other element. Why? Because its our nervous system that separates us from all other plant and animal life--and calcium provides the electrical system for our nervous system. When our calcium levels get elevated (almost always due to a bad parathyroid gland), then we can have changes in our personality (typically noticed by our loved ones) and many other nervous-system symptoms (depression, etc). So, parathyroid disease is not just about osteoporosis and kidney stones, it is primarily about us feeling "normal" and enjoying life. The Role of the Parathyroid Glands -- to Regulate Calcium.The ONLY purpose of the parathyroid glands is to regulate the calcium level in our bodies within a very narrow range so that the nervous and muscular systems can function properly. This is all they do. They measure the amount of calcium in the blood every minute of every day... and if the calcium levels go down a little bit, the parathyroid glands recognize it and make parathyroid hormone (PTH) which goes to the bones and takes some calcium out (makes a withdrawal from the calcium vault) and puts it into the blood. When the calcium in the blood is high enough, then the parathyroids shut down and stop making PTH. The single major disease of parathyroid glands is over-activity of one or more of the parathyroids which make too much parathyroid hormone causing a potentially serious calcium imbalance (too high calcium in the blood). This is called hyperparathyroidism and this is the disease that this entire web site is about. Parathyroid Quick Facts:
There is a lot of information about parathyroid disease and why it must be fixed. To make this information more understandable we have separated our parathyroid pages into specific topics. We will often help you pick the next most appropriate topics. If you get a little lost, use the navigation bar on the left side of the page, go back to the Home Page, or use our Table of Contents which has all pages listed and a sentence telling what parathyroid topic is discussed. This page was last updated: 08/10/2020 Can a person live without a parathyroid?Parathyroid glands control the amount of calcium in your blood. Parathyroid glands control the amount of calcium in your bones. You can easily live with one (or even 1/2) parathyroid gland. Removing all 4 parathyroid glands will cause very bad symptoms of too little calcium (hypOparathyroidism).
Why do people get their parathyroid removed?Why the Procedure is Performed. Your health care provider may recommend this surgery if one or more of your parathyroid glands is producing too much parathyroid hormone. This condition is called hyperparathyroidism. It is often caused by a small non-cancerous (benign) tumor called an adenoma.
What is parathyroid removal?Parathyroid surgery, or a parathyroidectomy, is a procedure during which the doctor removes part or all of your parathyroid glands. The parathyroid glands help control calcium and phosphorous blood levels.
What effect does the parathyroid have on the body?The parathyroid hormone produced by the thyroid glands helps maintain the right balance of calcium in the bloodstream and in tissues that depend on calcium for proper functioning. This is especially important for nerve and muscle function, as well as bone health.
|