Arizona State University (ASU) BIO202 Human Anatomy and Physiology II Exam 1 Practice Exam

The parathyroid gland plays a crucial role in regulating calcium metabolism in the body. It achieves this primarily through the secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH), which is essential for maintaining proper calcium levels in the bloodstream. PTH increases the concentration of calcium in the blood by promoting the release of calcium from bones, enhancing the absorption of calcium in the intestines, and increasing the reabsorption of calcium in the kidneys.

The parathyroid glands are small glands located on the posterior aspect of the thyroid gland, and their activity is fundamental in balancing calcium homeostasis. When calcium levels are low in the blood, PTH is secreted to correct this imbalance. Conversely, when calcium levels are adequate or high, the secretion of PTH decreases.

While other glands, such as the thyroid gland, produce calcitonin, which lowers blood calcium levels, and the adrenal and pituitary glands involve hormones that regulate various bodily functions, they do not have the primary responsibility for directly managing calcium metabolism like the parathyroid glands do.